'Scariest thing I'd ever seen': Kildare teen found guilty of dangerous driving

A TEENAGER charged with a total of eight counts of dangerous driving after he led gardaí on a high speed chase for 25 minutes across south Kildare will have to return to court in a fortnight for sentencing.

Because the teenager – who won’t be 18 until May – was pleading not guilty, both Garda Dave Phelan and Padraig Minnock who were in the pursuit car took to the witness box to give evidence from the events in the early hours of 30 April 2025.

Garda Phelan told he they had been on patrol at 1.30am on Stanhope Street, Athy when they got a call about a Nissan March that was reported stolen, and involved in a driveaway with €52 worth of fuel from AppleGreen on the Monasterevin Road.

“We had lights and sirens, but the vehicle failed to stop at a red light,” he said.

“This was the start of a 25-minute pursuit, first out the Kilkenny Road where they were doing 100kph in a 50 zone, then 150kph on the N78 to Ballylinan where the limit is 100.

“We were on lights and sirens all the time. At the Three Counties in Maganey they continued at over 100kph in a 60 limit, and then they came back to Athy town but didn’t slow down.

“They went straight through another red light on Leinster Street, the wrong way around a roundabout, onto the Kilcullen Road with speeds in excess of 100kph where the limit is 80.

“Then at Geraldine Cross which is notorious for accidents they went straight through. It was the scariest thing I’d ever seen.

“At Tomard the ARU from Newbridge deployed the Stinger (for tyre puncturing) which slowed them down, but they kept going.

“When they were eventually stopped on the Carlow Road, Garda Minnock believed they were about to leave the vehicle, so he positioned the squad car close on the driver’s side.

“They tried to change seats, but we arrested (named teen).

“They were taken to Kildare Town Garda Station where they had a screwdriver and Vice Grips, which are used to steal Japanese imports.

“They were summonsed for possession of the articles, and a file sent to the JLO (Juvenile Liaison Office),” he concluded.

“In cross-examination from barrister Hugo Mills, Garda Phelan admitted he didn’t see the driver’s face during the pursuit, and when asked about lighting at that hour, said: “there was street lighting (in the town) and lots of blue lights from garda cars”.

“Do you accept that due to poor lighting, somebody else could’ve left the vehicle?” asked Mr Mills.

“There’s no doubt in my mind the driver was in a light grey tracksuit,” said Garda Phelan.

He then admitted the CCTV footage from Applegreen had been “mislaid” and there was no dashcam on his vehicle.

“It was an oversight on my behalf not to back it up on a hard drive,” he said. “The evidence of myself and garda Minnock is all there is”.

He added: “We don’t have bodycams in Kildare."

Inspector Brian Norton for the state asked him: “During the 25 minutes did you ever lose sight of the car you were pursuing." 

Gda Phelan replied firmly: “Never."

“Are you in any doubt who was driving?” he then asked.

“None,” was the reply from the stand.

Garda Minnock then gave evidence, and said: “the most egregious driving was at Geraldine Cross”.

“When the pursuit ended I parked my car on the driver’s side, and noticed the driver moving to the passenger side.

“In my experience this is to create doubt about who was driving.

“The co-defendant is due to be tried at this level (district court) on a later date,” he said.

“There is clearly doubt here,” argued Mr Mills.

“The gardaí should’ve collected all the relevant evidence, and that wasn’t done here.

“If the footage was kept, it would’ve shown who was in the driver’s seat, but it wasn’t.

“It was late at night, only artificial light, and there was some movement reported in the car between a man in black, and a man in a grey tracksuit, therefore there is some doubt, and the state falls short on each of these matters,” he rested.

“What’s not in doubt is the garda evidence, and the both were arrested,” noted the Inspector.

In summation, the judge noted: “This was a highly charged atmosphere at 1.30 in the morning” and that mislaying the CCTV was "unacceptable”, but that: “this court is satisfied the state has proven its case”.

“This young man put human life at risk … and if there had been any other car coming through Geraldine Cross it would’ve been a disaster,” he said.

“Wrong side of the road, wrong way round the roundabout? It goes on and on, and is really shocking for someone so young.

“The gardaí kept a safe distance to limit risk to these two young men, and that is to be commended.

“The only good thing for your client is he has no previous convictions,” said the judge.

“He has come to garda attention since,” said Gda Minnock.

As is required by law for a minor, the judge had no choice but to refer the boy to the probation service for a Section 33 report, and adjourned sentencing until 24 March.

“All sentencing options are open to this court,” he concluded ominously.