Man jailed for dragging garda with car
A man who dragged a garda along with his car after refusing to stop for him has been jailed for two and half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Thomas Ward (aged 33) of Riverview, Ashgrove, Mountmellick, Laois was ordered to stop his Honda Integra when gardaí spotted him driving in a bus lane on Bachelor’s Walk in Dublin city centre.
He refused to do so and gardaí Dean Keogh and Steven Kelly followed him on foot. Ward got caught in traffic and turned the car engine off when the two gardaí approached.
Gda Keogh told Mr Kerida Naidoo BL, prosecuting, that he was checking Ward’s tax and insurance discs when Ward started the engine and tried to drive off. Garda Keogh was almost pinned against a truck that had been stopped in traffic ahead of Ward but managed to get out of the way.
Gda Kelly was leaning into the window of the Integra at the time and was dragged along with the vehicle as Ward mounted a footpath causing pedestrians to jump out of the way.
Ward continued to drive, breaking two red lights as he turned onto Eden Quay with Gda Kelly still hanging out the vehicle’s window.
Gda Kelly then managed to take the keys from the ignition and Ward was immediately arrested.
Gda Keogh said Ward later stated in interview that he had been in “a state of confusion” and had “not meant to hurt anyone”.
Gda Kelly was later treated in hospital and was out of work for a month.
Ward pleaded guilty to endangerment of both gardaí Keogh and Kelly on Eden Quay on October 14, 2010. He has 60 previous convictions which included theft, public order and criminal damage.
Gda Keogh agreed with Mr Colm Hennessy BL, defending, that his client has written letters of apology to both gardaí.
Judge Martin Nolan said what Ward had done was “extremely dangerous” and added that he was “quite fortunate” that more serious charges had not followed.
