Mechanic drove into Garda car inside GAA club grounds after high speed chase, court told

Sunday World

13-06-2025

The court was told how the vehicle appeared to be trying to capture the attention of gardaí who were on patrol at the time by stopping in the middle of the road and recording officers on a mobile phone.
Conor McPhillips led gardaí on a high speed chase across Monaghan in a pursuit that ended in a GAA club grounds.
A mechanic went 'buck mad' when he led gardaí on a high speed chase before turning and driving into a garda patrol car inside the grounds of a GAA club, a court has heard.
Conor McPhillips (32) Kincorragh, Smithborough, Co Monaghan was eventually stopped after his attempts to give gardaí the slip moments after entering the vicinity of Tyholland GAA ended in failure during the early hours of July 21 last year.
McPhillips appeared at a sitting of Monaghan District Court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, no insurance, refusing to provide a specimen to gardaí and of having no driving licence in place in the wake of the incident.
Conor McPhillips on the steps of Monaghan Courthouse.
Sgt Lisa McEntee outlined how gardaí had been drawn to the movements of a VW Passat shortly before 4am after it was spotted being driven in an erratic manner.
The court was told how the vehicle appeared to be trying to capture the attention of gardaí who were on patrol at the time by stopping in the middle of the road and recording officers on a mobile phone.
Moments later, the vehicle proceeded out the N2 and towards Emyvale where its driver failed to stop despite attempts by gardaí to signal to its driver to pull in.
As the VW Passat continued towards Emyvale, gardaí temporarily lost sight of the vehicle before noticing it then travelling behind the patrol car minutes later.
The same vehicle carried out what was described in court as a 'dangerous' overtaking manoeuvre by crossing a number of traffic islands in the Gortmoney area of the county.
As gardaí set off in pursuit of the vehicle once more, its driver undertook a second dangerous overtake a short time later before it was spotted circling around a roundabout 'numerous times' as it made off in the direction of Tyholland.
It was there, the court was told McPhillips entered the grounds of Tyholland GAA with gardaí following in hot pursuit.
Conor McPhillips on the steps of Monaghan Courthouse.
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Sgt McEntee said it was at that stage, gardaí observed the accused turn his vehicle and drive directly into the garda patrol car, causing damage to its front bumper in the process.
Judge Raymond Finnegan was informed how McPhillips proceeded to drive around the outside perimeter of the Monaghan club side's pitch before he subsequently exited the vehicle and was arrested.
Defence solicitor Martin Cosgrove described his client's actions as a 'big outing for a first outing' in light of his lack of any previous convictions.
'He has no real explanation and just went buck mad that night,' said Mr Cosgrove as he handed in €400 on behalf of McPhillips for the damage that was caused to the garda patrol car.
The local solicitor insisted that while there was no damage inflicted upon the pitch or gates of Tyholland GAA which McPhillips rammed during the course of the chase, it was conceded his 'cooperation wasn't great' with gardaí when he was brought to a local garda station following his arrest.
'This is worthy of a prison sentence,' replied a visibly irritated Judge Finnegan as he ordered McPhillips to spend a spell in the holding cells of Monaghan Courthouse while he considered his verdict.
When the accused was brought back up shortly before lunchtime, McPhillips said that experience was one he did not wish to encounter anytime soon again.
'How would you like nine or ten months in it because from what I heard this morning you deserve it for the way you conducted yourself,' said Judge Finnegan.
McPhillips responded by insisting his actions on the night of the incident were 'completely out of character', something which drew a terse response from Judge Finnegan.
'Do you know how many times I have heard that in here? Everything is out of character when you end up in the court,' he said.
McPhillips was consequently fined €500 for one of the dangerous driving charges and banned from driving for two years, as well as being fined €500 for the section 12 refusal alongside an accompanying four year ban.
A €350 fine, meanwhile, was also handed down for driving without insurance.
In 'taking into consideration' the no driving licence charge and criminal damage charge given the €400 compensation which was handed in earlier, Judge Finnegan told the 32-year-old: 'You are a very lucky man Mr McPhillips.'
In the aftermath of that ruling, Mr Cosgrove applied for a brief postponement to McPhillips' disqualification in view of the fact he lived at home with his parents and was presently bringing his mother to medical appointments for treatment to a shoulder injury.
Those overtures, however, fell on deaf ears as Judge Finnegan insisted his client needed to recognise the error of his ways.
'No, I won't do it (postpone driving ban),' he said. 'Let him pay for a taxi as he needs to take responsibility.'