Man remanded at Derry Magistrate's Court on series of driving charges

A judge at Derry Magistrate's Court said today that on the facts he had heard about a man on driving charges 'even Clarence Darrow could not get him off.'

David Deery (42) of Primity Gardens in Derry appeared charged with a series of driving charges.

He was charged with driving while disqualified, with no licence or insurance and driving with excess alcohol on November 26.

He was also charged with failing to stop for police, failing to provide a sample of breath and taking a vehicle without permission on the same date. 

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. 

The court heard that in the early hours of November 26 police observed a vehicle being driven 'erratically' and almost colliding with traffic lights at Altnagelvin Hospital.

Police signalled the vehicle to stop but it made off at speed before eventually turning into a dead end. 

The driver was seen to make off on foot still with the car keys on his hand. 

The car was linked to Deery and the owner said he had no permission to drive it. 

The court heard that the defendant refused to co-operate apart from saying he had been out drinking and then taken the car 'I shouldn't have done it.'

District Judge Ted Magill said that the defendant had 67 previous convictions with 41 for road traffic matters and had recently received a suspended sentence as well as a disqualification. 

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that apart from the offences earlier this year the last offending by this defendant was in 2016.

He said that Deery accepts that a period of custody was 'well nigh inevitable'.

He said Deery was in employment ironically as a car valeter. 

Judge Magill said that his fear was if he let Deery out he 'will simply do it again'.

He said he was prepared to adjourn the case for a week to see if a plea could be entered but was refusing bail. 

Deery was remanded in custody to appear again on December 4.