Garda 'dragged' along road by young mum as she fled checkpoint close to Limerick town

A MOTHER-OF-SEVEN who 'dragged' a garda along the road while trying to drive away from a checkpoint has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment and banned from driving for ten years.

Victoria Harty, also known as Victoria Ryan, was before Limerick District Court to face charges arising from an incident which happened outside Askeaton last year.

Outlining the facts of the case, Sergeant Sean Murray said the dangerous driving offence happened at Creeves Cross, Askeaton on June 18, 2024.

He told Judge Patricia Harney the defendant, who was driving a Toyota Avensis, was stopped at a checkpoint and that while being spoken to by Garda Errol Flynn, she accelerated and drove away, dragging Garda Flynn along the road for a short distance.

"She was told to stop, she failed to do so," he said, adding that the 35-year-old was stopped and apprehended by another garda unit a short time later. There was no evidence of Garda Flynn sustaining any injuries.

The defendant, who has 62 previous convictions, was also before the court for a large number of unrelated offences including driving without insurance or a licence, shoplifting and failing to appear in court on four separate occasions.

Sgt Murray said she stole a variety of goods, valued at €1,222, from stores in Limerick city, Askeaton and Newcastle West and that most of the property was not recovered.

Seeking leniency from the court, solicitor John Herbert said his client had been homeless until recently but that she now lives with her partner and children in a caravan "on a site in Askeaton" and that her children are now attending school in the local community.

Imposing sentence, Judge Harney said she was unhappy that Ms Harty had "essentially avoided coming to court for a number of years" and she described the charges before her as substantial.

She likened the plea for leniency to someone who murdered their parents asking for sympathy "because they are an orphan".

The judge said the dangerous driving offence was "disgraceful" and she commented that some of the theft offences were "just brazen".

Consecutive prison sentences totalling more than seven months were imposed, including a three month sentence for the dangerous driving offence.

Ms Harty was disqualified from driving for ten years and fines totalling €1,950 were imposed for a variety of road traffic offences including driving without insurance, driving without a licence and not wearing a seatbelt. 

Leave to appeal the severity of the sentences was granted but Ms Harty was ordered not to drive pending the outcome of any appeal.