Motorist drives wrong way through Limerick tunnel to escape
A YOUNG man drove the wrong way on the M7 motorway and through the Limerick Tunnel to evade gardai just four months after he was released from prison for dangerous driving causing the death of a teenager in Ballyneety.
Anthony Curtin, aged 23, of no fixed abode but with a previous address at Crecora Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston in the city, was before Limerick Circuit Court on three counts of reckless endangerment.
Judge Tom O’Donnell described the accused’s driving as “outrageous, appalling and extremely, extremely dangerous”.
Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the facts of the case with the assistance of Detective Garda Eoin Dillon.
Mr O’Sullivan said gardai had received a report at 1.35am on October 8, 2022 of a black Volvo being driven erratically in Moyross, St Mary’s Park and Garryowen.
“The garda vehicle and the Volvo came nose to nose and gardai recognised the accused. Gardai activated the blue lights and siren but he failed to stop,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
The court head Mr Curtin drove on a footpath, went through a red light on the Ballysimon Road, continued at speeds in excess of 140kms, failed to yield at the Garryglass roundabout before taking the exit for the M7 motorway “against the flow of traffic”.
Mr O’Sullivan said thankfully there was no collision on the motorway.
“Gardai decided not to follow due to the risk of loss of life,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
Det Garda Dillon and his colleague then drove towards the Hyde Road area of the city and waited.
“They saw the black Volvo. It failed to stop. It went on the Childers Road, then the John Carew link road before driving on the wrong side of the motorway for a second time. It continued on the N18 on the wrong side of the road. He made his way to the toll bridge at Clonmacken on the wrong side of the complex. He went the wrong way through the tunnel,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
Mr Curtin “made good his escape” and the Volvo was later found abandoned in Mallow.
Three days later Det Garda Dillon stopped a black Toyota which Mr Curtin attempted to alight from and was arrested.
The prosecuting barrister said Mr Curtin has a number of previous convictions including dangerous driving causing death in Ballyneety on March 20, 2018 where the vehicle “vaulted into a field” and Gearoid Sheehy, aged 17, lost his life.
Judge O’Donnell asked Det Garda Dillon how long Mr Curtin was out of custody at the time of these offences.
“Four months,” said Det Garda Dillon.
Aaron Desmond, barrister for Mr Curtin, said his client’s instructions are to apologise unreservedly. Mr Desmond said a psychological report outlines Mr Curtin’s difficult background and his “poor impulsive control”.
“He wishes to break the cycle and draw a line in the sand. Admittedly it is late coming. He intends to move away from Limerick and a certain peer group,” said Mr Desmond.
A letter from Mr Curtin’s partner and mother of his four year-old-daughter was also handed to the judge. The partner asked the judge for the opportunity for Mr Curtin to “bond with his daughter”.
Judge O’Donnell said Mr Curtin has an appalling record. He described driving the wrong way on the motorway and through the Limerick Tunnel as “outrageous, appalling and extremely, extremely dangerous”.
“He had only recently been released from a substantial sentence for dangerous driving causing death. Lessons have not been learned,” said Judge O’Donnell, who added that Mr Curtin was disqualified from driving at the time.
Mr Curtin was sentenced to three years in jail, backdated to October 11, 2022, when he was remanded in custody.