Louth man who led Gardaí on high speed chase to border avoids jail
He contested the charges, testifying that he was not behind the wheel, nor even in the area where the pursuit commenced. His girlfriend also gave evidence that he was with her the whole time.
However, at the conclusion of evidence, Judge Nicola Andrews convicted the defendant of dangerous driving at Jenkinstown Post Office, Bellurgan, Ballymascanlon, Thistle Cross and Carrickaneena, before adjourning finalisation of the case for reports.
There were 61 previous convictions, 27 under the Road Traffic Act, including for dangerous driving causing death for which a five-year sentence was imposed in February 2011.
Judge Andrews sentenced him to 120 hours community service in lieu of four months imprisonment for dangerous driving at Jenkinstown Post Office along with a two-year driving disqualification. The other charges were taken into consideration.
Legal aid was granted.
The district court had heard that Gardaí began a surveillance operation at the post office at 8.30am on December 2, 2024, to apprehend Mr O'Riordan who had eight outstanding bench warrants.
Gda Ian McDonnell said that he was in an unmarked car and at 4.27pm he spotted a silver Volkswagen Passat arrive. The defendant, whom he knew, was the sole occupant.
A high speed pursuit subsequently began, along the main Dundalk Road, past the Ballymascanlon Hotel and through Thistle Cross. It ended when the Passat overtook on a bend under a railway bridge and crossed into Northern Ireland.
Gda McDonnell said that he could see it driving dangerously along Edenappa Road. The PSNI was alerted.
The pursuit was over 8.6km and lasted approximately eight minutes.
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On December 10 at 7.10am, the court heard, Mr O'Riordan was arrested with the assistance of the Garda Armed Support Unit at a residence in Mullacrew.
The offending car was parked tight to the rear of the dwelling so it couldn't be seen from the road.
Daniel O'Riordan testified that he didn't go to Bellurgan that day. His girlfriend drove him to a yard in Culloville, Co. Armagh to collect his wages.
He continued that he was in Bellurgan the next day. He gets the 'Dole' in Jenkinstown Post Office.
'I wasn't driving. I wasn't even in Jenkinstown. It's not my car. I don't know who has access to it,' he said.
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