Teenager who survived high-speed crash on major Clare road jailed for dangerous driving

A teenager from County Clare has been jailed for dangerous driving following a high-speed crash on the main Limerick to Shannon road earlier this year.

At Ennis District Court, Shane Connors, aged 18, of Woodview Heights, Sixmilebridge, pleaded guilty to multiple charges arising from a number of different offences, including the crash on the N18.

The other charges including burglary, criminal damage and theft relate to offences that happened at a number of locations across Clare and Galway.

READ NEXT: LATEST: Investigations underway after man (80s) is struck by vehicle in Clare

The dangerous driving charge relates to an accident on the N18 between Bunratty and Limerick on May 30 last.

The incident occurred following a late-night burglary in Sixmilebridge during which Mr Connors stole a wallet and car keys before taking a car which was parked outside.

Sergeant John Burke said Mr Connors was driving the stolen vehicle - a Mercedes car - in excess of 150 kilometres per hour when he crashed. He did not have a driving licence or insurance.

Judge Alec Gabbett was told the defendant hit the barrier and a pole on the side of the road before bouncing back onto the dual carriageway with the Mercedes landing on its roof.

The engine was ripped from the car and it landed in the ditch on the side of the road due to the force of the single-car collision.

Tara Godfrey, the solicitor representing Mr Connors, said Mr Connors is a different person since the collision as "reality hit that he could have killed himself or someone else."

She said her client, who had no previous convictions prior to the court sitting, has "calmed down enormously" and has "done good work" with the Probation Service in recent months.

Judge Gabbett noted how Mr Connors appeared before him in court the day after the crash and that he was "surprised he was able to walk into the courtroom".

He commented it was likely he survived the crash as it was a luxury vehicle that he stole. "It was a miracle," he said.

On the dangerous driving charge, Judge Gabbett sentenced Mr Connors to three months' imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for two years. A four-year ban was imposed for the no insurance charge.

Mr Connors was also convicted and sentenced in relation to several other charges, arising from separate offences, some of which were committed while he was still a juvenile.

There were emotional scenes in the courtroom as the 18-year-old hugged a relative before being led away to serve his prison sentence, which totals 14 months.