Derry man banned after high-speed pursuit with Donegal Gardai
25-year-old Neil McLoughlin fined €400 for dangerous driving and evading Gardaí with headlights off
A Derry man who sped away from gardai with his headlights off during a nighttime pursuit has been disqualified from driving.
Neil McLoughlin was hit with two-year driving ban arising out of an incident in St Johnston on June 2, 2024.
The case of McLoughlin, a 25-year-old of Racecourse Park, Derry, was before Letterkenny District Court.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that at 2.20am, Gardai attended a scene at Tullyowen, St Johnston after a complaint that a large number of vehicles were at the location.
Gardai observed a Lexus IS200, being driven by McLoughlin, performing a donut manoeuvre at a junction.
McLoughlin took off at high speed in the Lifford direction and a short time later Gardai encountered the vehicle at a licensed premises.
Again, McLoughlin made off at speed with no headlights on and he was observed driving again soon after.
Gardai conducted enquiries and McLoughlin was arrested.
Sergeant Collins told the court that McLoughlin, who has no previous convictions, was cooperative and made admissions when questioned by gardai.
McLoughlin was charged with dangerous driving. contrary to section 53 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
He was also charged that having been involved in the occurrence of damage to property, namely the roadside embankment, that he failed to keep his vehicle on or near the place of the occurrence for a period which was reasonable.
That charge is contrary to section 106 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
Mr Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for McLoughlin, said this was a “classic showing off and diffing” in an IS200.
“He took off and the blue mist came down.” Mr Gallagher said, adding that the vehicle was in “perfect road worthy order” at the time.
Judge Emile Daly said that McLoughlin has been given “many opportunities” to deal with the matter in a way that he may have got the benefit of the court or a reduction of the charge.
However, Judge Daly noted that McLoughlin had not completed the ProSocial Driving Course.
“He has chosen not to attend,” Judge Daly said, adding that the incident was a demonstration of dangerous driving.
On a dangerous driving charge, McLaughlin was handed a two-year disqualification from driving and was fined €400. McLoughlin was given four months in which to pay the fine while the other charge was marked as taken into consideration by the court.