Arrested after garda chase in Laois

A man who ‘panicked’ and fled gardai drove dangerously while four garda cars chased him.

Patrick Keyes, 22, of 29 Quigley Park, Rathdowney admitted to dangerous driving and driving without insurance at Dysart Beg, Mountrath on January 8 last. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said gardai became aware of a black BMW at Dysart Beg at 10pm on the date. 

When gardai put on their lights the car pulled away and overtook on a continuous white line on a bend. 

“Four garda patrol cars were involved in the pursuit,” Sgt Kirby explained. He said the man has no previous convictions. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said the defendant and other road users were lucky nobody was hurt in the incident. 

She said her client was a young man who had made an extremely foolish decision. She said he works on the railway. 

Knowing he wasn’t insured, she said, “he panicked and drove in the manner in which he did.” 

She said he was pleading at an early stage and was cooperative after his arrest. She described the offending as totally out of character.

Judge Andrew Cody imposed fines of €600 and disqualified the man from driving for two years.