Judge orders Kildare man's BMW to be destroyed after car chase

“IT was almost like a James Bond movie!” said a garda describing a high-speed chase out of Athy that resulted in the perpetrator’s car becoming fully airborne.

This came to light in Athy District Court this week (23 September) when gardaí made a successful application for a destruction order on the confiscated BMW.

It had been driven on the night in question by a Liam Hubbock (25), with an address at Kilkea, Athy, and has been in garda possession since.

Mr Hubbock had been convicted and jailed last year on nine counts of dangerous driving following “a high-speed pursuit” on the main Athy-Tullow road (R418) on 14 December 2023, as well as for no insurance, no licence, and damage to three other vehicles.

He was also charged with the possession of articles for the committing of a crime – namely a Snood neck scarf, gloves, a long torch, and a knife – and he also tested positive for cocaine.

Garda Amanda Kirwan testified she had been on duty on the R418 at 2.30pm when the car allegedly driven by Mr Hubbock “failed to stop, which led to a high-speed pursuit from Castledermot to Kilkea on the main Athy to Naas Road”.

“He was travelling at speeds up to 180kph on back roads, went straight through a crossroads – it was a 50kph zone through one village – and two civilian cars were damaged as well,” she said.

In court this week Garda Kirwan told Judge Desmond Zaidan that the pursuit of this BMW had been so fast that “we couldn’t get the registration until we caught up on it”.

“We obtained a certificate that Mr Hubbock was not the registered owner, but we couldn’t get in contact with the registered owner.

“Mr Hubbock was disqualified at the time, and he just wants the tyres back."

“The tyres? That’s crazy!” said the judge.

“You convicted him in the district court, and it was appealed to the Circuit Court of Appeal, but all your orders were upheld,” she confirmed.

“We believe he may have been in the commission of a crime at the time, you can see the tools and paraphernalia in the photographs, judge,” she said, after handing in the crime scene shots.

“That’s an extendable baton!” noted the judge.

“I wouldn’t say it was roadworthy after the incident, when it hit a patrol car and two other vehicles before it went airborne and the steering rack came off on impact,” she said.

“Airborne? All four tyres in the air?” asked an incredulous Judge Zaidan.

“It was almost like a James Bond movie! You couldn’t write it,” said Garda Kirwan.

“What did I do with this lad? Did I jail him?” asked the judge, which was confirmed by the garda.

“Good. No regrets,” said the judge.

“To be fair to him, he compensated the garda car and the owners of the two others. The money was handed in here,” she said.

“You’ve got your order (for destruction), and so if you get no legal correspondence within 14 working days you can go ahead,” the judge said.