Driver high on cocaine who rammed garda jeep during high speed pursuit is jailed

A MOTORIST has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment for “intentionally” driving a car into a stationary garda jeep during the course of a high speed pursuit.

Judge Dermot Sheehan said the defendant drove the jeep with the intent to damage the vehicle, and from that damage the occupants.

Garda Alan Griffin, accompanied by Garda Niall Deegan, had stopped their jeep on the Clonmacken Roundabout, Condell Road, Limerick to prevent a fleeing driver from going into the city centre and for public safety - to stop other motorists encountering the speeding Mazda 6.

Evan Toomey (pictured), aged 27, of Oak Park, Ennis, County Clare, pleaded guilty to a number of offences including criminal damage with intent to endanger life which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Toomey, who has 89 previous convictions, also pleaded guilty to drugs offences and dangerous driving in the early hours of November 2019.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the case last week with the assistance of Detective Sergeant Fergal Hanrahan (read below).

Two Limerick gardai thought they were ‘going to die’ in ramming incident

Judge Dermot Sheehan adjourned giving his judgement until this Friday morning so that he could read all the documentation.

Imposing sentence, the judge Garda Griffin and Garda Deegan were going about their lawful duty and were not given an opportunity to avoid the endangerment of their lives.

“It was a deliberate and intentional act. He knew the garda vehicle was occupied - it was a marked garda jeep with its blue lights on,” said Judge Sheehan, who added that he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the ramming was intentional.

“The gardai were parked to direct the car away from the centre of Limerick. He (Toomey) drove directly at the garda jeep in a collision of some force that pushed the garda jeep across the roundabout into a sign. The night was dry and the road conditions were good,” he said.

The judge said he had read the victim impact reports of Garda Griffin and Garda Deegan which outlined their life-changing injuries (read below).

Limerick gardai deliver victim impact statements after their patrol car was rammed

Judge Sheehan said the aggravating factors were Toomey’s long history of criminal conduct since the age of 14 and the Probation Service said he is a high risk of reoffending due to his drug addiction.

The mitigating factors were Toomey’s long addiction to drugs, he was under the influence of drugs at the time (cocaine), his expressed wish to deal with his addiction, a letter of apology and remorse.

Judge Sheehan handed down a seven year jail sentence with the last 12 months suspended for the criminal damage with intent to endanger life charge. Toomey received two 18-month sentences, to be served concurrently, for possession of heroin and cannabis for sale and supply.

Judge Sheehan imposed a four month concurrent sentence and a 20-year disqualification for dangerous driving - overtaking an ambulance on a blind bind near Quinn’s Cross roundabout in Raheen.

“It was outrageous,” said Judge Sheehan.

Toomey will be given credit for time served on remand. Toomey told the court he has been on remand for 16 months. His barrister, Yvonne Quinn, is to confirm the length of time with the court.

A suspended sentence, for a separate and unrelated offence, was referred back to Ennis Circuit Court for its consideration.