Disqualified driver fled into field

A 35-YEAR-OLD man who fled from gardaí while driving under disqualification has received a suspended sentence at Carlow District Court. Mark Sheridan, 29 Fairgreen Manor, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to offences under section 56 and section 38 of the Road Traffic Act for driving without insurance or a valid licence.

The court heard that on 18 August 2024, Mr Sheridan’s vehicle was stopped by Garda O’Hanlon. According to the garda report, Mr Sheridan exited the vehicle and “took off into a nearby field” where he was apprehended and found to be in an intoxicated state.

It emerged that Mr Sheridan was a disqualified driver at the time of the incident. The court was told he was verbally abusive to the garda at the scene and was subsequently brought to nearby Baltinglass Garda Station, where he refused to provide a blood sample.

The defendant has five previous convictions, all for road traffic offences. His most recent conviction was on 12 December 2022, when he was found guilty of drink-driving and dangerous driving, resulting in a two-year driving disqualification.

Mr Sheridan’s defending barrister told the court that he “was not going to downplay the incident”, adding that his client has “very serious alcohol addiction issues” that were “rooted in a traumatic incident” related to his family life.

The court heard that in the last six months Mr Sheridan had made efforts to address his addiction by attending AA meetings and had not consumed alcohol during that period. The defence also noted that the defendant is a business owner with a garage and is father to three children, one of whom is under a year old.

The defending barrister said his client was “extremely apologetic” and asked that his efforts to address his addiction be taken into account, adding that Mr Sheridan wanted to “put it all behind him” and was willing to do anything to avoid a custodial sentence.

In her ruling, Judge Geraldine Carthy noted that the defendant had pleaded guilty to two of the counts he was charged with. She said that the facts of the matter were “quite stark” and imposed a five-month suspended custodial sentence conditional on good behaviour for the next 18 months and engagement with the Probation Service, alongside a €300 own bond.

Mr Sheridan was also disqualified from driving for four years.