Bench warrant issued for speeding Kildare driver
Image for illustration purposes only
A BENCH warrant was issued for a Kildare man who led gardaí on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of up to 220km/h and forced other motorists to take evasive action.
The warrant was issued by Judge Andrew Cody at Portlaoise District Court when the defendant, Declan Cody, Patrician Avenue, Naas, failed to appear in court to answer to the offences of driving without insurance and with dangerous driving on the M7 motorway at Clonadacasey on 22 April.
Det Garda Kelly said that he, along with other garda members, were in an unmarked garda car at 8.30pm that night driving along the motorway at about 120km/h.
He said he looked in his rearview mirror and saw a car approach at high speed from behind and overtake him at an approximate speed of 160km.
“The car was going like a bullet when it passed me,” said the detective.
He said he took up pursuit and reached speeds of up to 190km/h and that other cars on the road had to get out of the way of the speeding BMW car.
Det Kelly said that about 2km into the chase, the car pulled over onto the hard shoulder, cutting across other lanes of traffic and coming to a stop. However, the car took off again and reached speeds of up to 220km/h before it eventually stopped at Clonadacasey.
He said the pursuit lasted for about 9km and there had been a lot of traffic about at the time, with many vehicles having to take evasive action to get out of the way of the speeding car.
When arrested, Mr Cody was handcuffed and taken to Abbeyleix Garda Station. The car was seized. It was later found that the driver had been driving on a learner driver permit. When charged with the offences, he made no reply.
Det Kelly said that Mr Cody told him that he had purchased the car earlier the same day the pursuit had taken place.
The court heard that the accused has 33 previous convictions that included six drug-related, 12 public order, one for assault and 14 road traffic offences.
Judge Andrew Cody convicted Mr Cody in his absence on the two offences and issued a bench warrant for his arrest for sentencing.
