Olivia Kelleher
A 35-year-old man has appeared in court charged in connection with allegedly being behind the wheel in a “rampage” of driving incident during which a van with six children on board rammed in to six garda vehicles.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Cork District Court where he was charged with the false imprisonment in the car of his partner, three counts of dangerous driving at the N40 South Ring Road, at the N28 in Shanbally and at Carr’s Hill in Carrigaline, Co Cork.
He was also charged with breaching a protection order by putting his partner in fear that she and the children would be killed and of refusing to provide a specimen at the Bridewell Garda Station in Cork city when he was being tested for drink-driving.
He was also charged with damaging three patrol cars at City Gate in Mahon Point in Cork and on the Mahon Link. All of the alleged offences occurred on September 28th last.
Children in van
Garda Paul Dromey told the court that the children in the van during the time of the alleged incident ranged in age from five months to 10 years.
He gave evidence that the man’s partner, who was also in the van, was "traumatised" by the incident. He said when gardaí intercepted the van they saw her struggling in the passenger seat whilst holding a young child.
Garda Dromey said the accused had made "serious and violent efforts to evade gardai".
"He put his life at risk, the lives of members of his family at risk and the lives of gardai and members of the public at risk."
Garda Dromey gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said the accused stated that he had "no comment" to make when the nine charges were put to him under caution at the Bridewell Garda Station in Cork this morning.
Garda Dromey gave an outline of the alleged incident which occurred at around 9:45pm on Wednesday when gardai signalled for a van to stop in the Mahon area on the southside of Cork city. The van failed to stop and rammed a garda vehicle twice.
Gardaí from the Armed Support Unit were deployed in addition to a number of other garda units.
The van proceeded at speed the wrong way down a ramp on to the N40 before ramming more garda vehicles. The van allegedly went the wrong way around the Shannonpark Roundabout in Carrigaline before being brought to a halt by a stinger device on Carr’s Hill in Cork.
Garda Dromey added that two gardaí were hospitalised arising out of the incident. The woman and children were not injured. Gardaí said that the woman and children are at a secure and undisclosed location.
Garda Dromey objected to bail arising out of the seriousness of the charges. He expressed his concern that the accused would intimidate his partner and children if granted bail.
Judge Colm Roberts also heard from Sgt Pat Lyons who said that the case was getting the "full attention" of gardaí. A full incident room has been set up and a senior investigating officer has been appointed.
Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, applied for bail in the case. He stressed there is likely to be a delay before the case comes to court and asked that his client be realised with stringent bail conditions.
Sgt Lyons said he didn’t anticipate a delay in the case coming for hearing as a full investigation is underway.
Judge Roberts declined to grant bail given the gravity of the charges and the length of sentence which a conviction could attract. The accused was remanded in custody to appear in court on October 6th next by video link. DPP directions are expected to be given at the next court hearing.
