Man gets four-year ban after Garda car damaged in chase
Two cars were pursued by Gardai through a series of townlands and past residential areas following a diffing event in Letterkenny
A man has been put off the road for four years for his part in a chase, while he was disqualified, that resulted in a Garda patrol car being damaged.
Gardai were on patrol at Ballymaleel, Letterkenny, on September 12, 2015 with a car diffing event happening nearby.
At 10.45pm, two cars pulled out of the competition venue and attempted to evade a checkpoint, which was set up by Gardai.
One of the cars, a Lexus, was driven by Peter Tierney, with an address at Trooney Road, Sixmilfecross, Omagh.
The 28-year-old was before Letterkenny District Court charged with three counts of dangerous driving - at Ballymaleel, Magheranan and Tara Court. Tierney was also charged with driving while disqualified and criminal damage.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court how the chase at 70km/h took place along residential areas and through a number of town lands.
One of the cars collided with the Garda car after officers signaled for the driver to pull over.
Mr Frank Murphy, solicitor representing Tierney, said the incident happened eight years ago. Mr Murphy said Tierney is due to get married next month and now has his own car recovery company. “That irony isn’t lost on anyone,” Mr Murphy said.
“He fully accepts the difficulty he has put himself in. It was a moment of madness when he was 20.”
“That’s not a child,” said Judge Deane, adding that Tierney had put the Gardai and the public ‘at risk’ with his actions.
On one of the dangerous driving charges, Judge Deane disqualified Tierney and fined him €500, giving him six months to pay.
The other charges were taken into account by Judge Deane.