Nenagh court told garda car hit sped of 165km/h during chase along 60km/h bypass zone

A motorist travelled at speeds of up to 165km/h through a 60km/h zone in Roscrea, Nenagh District Court heard.

Garda Mark Rabbitte said that he was operating a speed detection checkpoint at the McDonald’s roundabout, Parkmore, at around 11.30am on May 6, 2021. He detected a, Audi being driven at a speed of 98kmph in a 50kmph speed limit zone.

He went to pursue the vehicle when he saw another car, a VW Passat, travelling with it at speed. The garda caught up the two vehicles in his patrol car.

The two vehicles were “fish-tailing” as the drivers attempted to overtake one another. The Passat “swerved violently” in front of the Audi to prevent an overtaking manoeuvre.

The Audi eventually overtook the VW, as did Garda Rabbitte, who continued his pursuit of the A4.

He told the court that a male in the front passenger side of the Passat leaned out of the window up to his waste and gestured at the garda vehicle.

Garda Rabbitte went after the Audi and the driver of the other car, Jason O'Rouke, 30, of Kennedy Park, Roscrea, stayed directly behind the garda vehicle.

The three vehicles sped out past the Auburn Lounge, after which the driver of the Audi, Martin Pratt, 23, Ashbury, Roscrea, turned left and continued on past Corville National School.

Garda Rabbitte was travelling at 96kmph to try and keep up with Mr Pratt’s vehicle, all the time in a 50kmph zone. The incident happened during school hours.

Mr Pratt then drove out Knock Road at speed in a residential area where a pedestrian was out walking a dog.

He then turned left at Tullaskeagh, failing to stop at a stop sign, and increasing his speed to 136km/h at this built-up location governed by a 50km/h speed limit.

He overtook two vehicles and remained on the opposite side of the road for some time.

The chase continued out the bypass where, at Benamore, Garda Rabbitte noted that he was travelling at 165km/h in a 60km/h zone in trying to keep up with Mr Pratt’s vehicle.

“I was struggling to keep the car in my sights,” he told the court.

The pursuit went on through the residential area of Ashbury at a speed of 129km/h.

At the GAA field, Mr Pratt sped past a tar-laying crew of up to 15 people working on the road with a machine.

He then crashed into a road-marking sign, left his vehicle and fled through a field.

Mr O’Rourke, who had remained behind the garda car throughout the pursuit, exited his vehicle and went after Mr Pratt.

The court heard that the distance driven by the vehicles was 5.8km, a distance that would take six minutes and 41 seconds to complete if a driver remained within the speed limit. The chase had covered the distance in just four minutes and 20 seconds.

Mr Pratt pleaded guilty to several charges of dangerous driving and to driving without insurance.

Mr O’Rourke contested three charges of dangerous driving. He told the court that there had been an altercation between the parties that morning at a service station.

He alleged that Mr Pratt had threatened him and, fearing for his safety, he had got into his Passat and left with Mr Pratt coming after him.

Mr O’Rourke denied breaking the speed limit or trying to prevent Mr Pratt from overtaking him.

At no stage did he overtake Mr Pratt’s vehicle.

He said Garda Rabbitte had overtaken his Passat at Scart after he signalled for the garda to pass him out.

Mr O’Rourke maintained that he had been seven or eight car lengths behind the garda vehicle after that. He stayed with the garda because he wanted to see Mr Pratt being caught.

Garda Rabbitte was adamant that Mr O’Rourke’s vehicle had been directly behind his at all times. “The manner of driving was as bad as I’ve seen in my years of service,” he remarked.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said it was clear that Mr O’Rourke kept up to the garda vehicle and exceeded the speed limits, as he arrived on the scene within seconds of Mr Pratt’s crash. The video footage showed him running past the garda vehicle and straight at the other defendant.

Mr O’Rourke had no previous convictions under the Road Traffic Act.

Kenny Kerrins, BL, said the two defendants had been involved in a previous incident but there had been no further issues.

Judge MacGrath disqualified Mr O’Rourke from driving for two years and imposed fines totalling €500.

Mr Pratt had 20 previous convictions, including one for driving without insurance at the time of the offence; he had since recorded three convictions for no insurance.

Solicitor Johnny Spencer said Mr Pratt’s version of events was that something was thrown into his vehicle during the service station altercation. He panicked and drove off at speed with Mr O'Rourke - and his passenger - chasing after him.

Mr Pratt apologised for his driving and realised that he had endangered the public. He was currently serving a driving ban.

Judge MacGrath sentenced Mr Pratt to four months in prison, suspended for two years on his own bond of €250.

She disqualified him from driving for six years and imposed fines totalling €800.

The judge told Mr Pratt he was lucky that he was not before the court in relation to more serious charges.