Prison sentence for drug driver who led Gardai on high speed chase into Slieve Bloom Mountains

A disqualified drug driver admitted leading gardai on a high speed chase from Portlaoise into the Slieve Blooms Mountains. 

Patrick Palmer, 30, of Mount Salem, Coolrain, Mountrath admitted to a number of offences arising from the incident on March 1, 2023. 

Garda Alan McLoughlin said the defendant failed to stop for gardai after he was spotted driving while holding a mobile phone on Fr Brown Avenue in Portlaoise on March 1.  Gardai pursued the vehicle. 

“He continued at speeds in excess of 140km overtaking dangerously,” said Garda McLoughlin.  The pursuit ended in Monicknew when the defendant’s vehicle crashed. 

“The vehicle rolled into a ditch and Mr Palmer was arrested,” Garda McLoughlin explained. 

He said €30 worth of cannabis was found and the driver tested positive for drugs with a reading of 8.2mgs per 100mls. Gardai discovered the defendant had been disqualified from driving for six years in 2021. 

Gardai charged the defendant with drug possession, dangerous driving, having no insurance or licence and driving while intoxicated. 

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Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant has 27 previous convictions including five for no insurance. 

“Where do you start with that?” asked Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick. 

She asked the court to take into account her client’s early plea of guilty. She said he was well behaved when gardai caught up with him. 

“He knew the game was up and he was courteous about it,” she said and Garda McLoughlin agreed. She said her client had panicked on the day in question. 

“The blue lights were activated and we knew we were disqualified and we panicked and took off,” she said. 

She said her client was born and reared in Laois and had worked as a plasterer and a grounds worker. 

She said the man had discovered a friend who had died in November last year and the experience had an “adverse impact” on his mental health. 

“His mother has written a letter to the court,” she said. 

“I would just ask you to take into account that he has pleaded,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

Judge Andrew Cody asked the garda how far it was to Monicknew. The garda said it was a 15 to 20 minute journey. 

“He is a man who is not just driving under the influence of drugs, he was over eight times the legal limit,” noted Judge Cody. 

He imposed a six month sentence for intoxicated driving and disqualified the man from driving for 20 years. He imposed the same sentence for not having insurance and six month sentence with a 10 year driving ban for having no insurance. The sentences were imposed concurrently.  Judge Cody took the remaining matters into consideration.  He fixed recognisance in case of appeal.