Prisoner in drunken car chase was at large for two months
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man was drunk and unlawfully at large from an open prison when he reversed into two Garda vehicles as they pursued him.
Oisín Ó Laoi, aged 25, of Lettermullen, Co Galway, but recently residing in Westport, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of dangerous driving, criminal damage, and driving without a licence and insurance.
Ó Laoi, who has 71 previous convictions, had been at large for two months before his arrest on January 1, 2024. He failed to return to Loughan House open prison having been granted temporary release.
Sgt Noel Crinnegan told the court that Ó Laoi was driving on the Newport to Westport Road at 5am on New Year's Day, 2024, when he drove through a red light after spotting a Garda van. He failed to stop at another red light and drove on the wrong side of the road on several occasions as he took off towards Ballinrobe.
At Ayle, he intentionally slowed down to allow Gardaí to catch up, but as the officers were about to alight from their vehicle, he reversed the Opel Insignia he was driving into the patrol van, causing damage valued at €8,500.
Ó Laoi took off again driving on the wrong side of the road. At Killawalla, he again attempted to reverse into the Garda van but failed to make contact.
The Gardaí followed but lost sight of the car. However, another officer took up the pursuit and Ó Laoi also tried to reverse into his vehicle. The defendant then sped off in the direction of Westport and stopped in the Ashwood estate before running into a house there.
Gardaí travelled to that address and knew the female occupant of the property. Armed support was called for and a highly intoxicated Ó Laoi had to be pepper-sprayed after resisting arrest.
When interviewed at Westport Garda Station, the defendant said he had been driving his girlfriend’s car after consuming a bottle of whiskey and several vodkas. He told Gardaí: “I f***ed up. Drink has me f***ed.”
The court heard that Ó Laoi had been disqualified from driving for six years in both 2019 and 2021. The father-of-four works as a groundsman and general operative in the construction industry.
Ó Laoi's barrister Mark Ryan said the defendant has "serious alcohol issues" and is on medication designed to mitigate against his drinking.
Judge Eoin Garavan said it was “appalling” that Ó Laoi was unlawfully at large for two months when the offences were committed.
“How is it that he remained undetected?” the judge queried. “I don’t know what [law] enforcement was doing there."
Judge Garavan described the defendant as a “complete and utter menace". The court was told that Ó Laoi received his first driving ban aged just 17. The judge said the defendant behaved like a “maniac” on the road.
“He didn’t give a damn for anyone around him,” he commented.
Judge Garavan imposed a four-year prison term, suspending the final year of the sentence.
