A disqualified driver who led Garda road and helicopter units on a chase through “very busy parts of the city” has been jailed for 12 months.
Lee Hyland (40) of Millrose Estate, Bluebell, appeared before the Circuit Criminal Court charged with dangerous driving and endangerment related to the events of the 12th of July 2023.
Karl Moran BL, told the court that Gardaí on mobile patrol on Bluebell Avenue observed a Blue Volkswagen Golf driven by the accused pull out in front of them after midnight on the day in question.
After Gardaí turned on lights and sirens, they tried to engage with the accused, who drove off at speed, travelling the wrong way down a dual carriageway, mounting footpaths, going straight through roundabouts, driving at speed the wrong way on slip roads, and driving over Luas tracks and road dividers, Mr Moran said.
The officers contacted Garda Command and Control, who initiated live tracking by the Air Support Unit, which captured the five-minute chase on video, which was played to the court.
Once alerted, the Air Support Unit guided Gardaí on the ground as to the movements of the vehicle throughout the incident.
Hyland, who wishes to become a mechanic, broke red lights when trying to evade Gardaí when crossing the Kylemore Road before driving at speed over the JFK roundabout, the court heard.
He broke a set of lights and drove straight onto a Luas track before making a U-turn at speed heading onto the Long Mile Road.
After making a handbreak turn, he travelled inbound on an outbound lane, forcing other vehicles to take evasive action.
After making another hand break turn, he then travelled in the correct direction, narrowly avoiding a collision with the Garda vehicle, before cutting across two outbound lanes.
Hyland then drove the wrong way on a ramp at Newlands Cross before the chase was stood down for safety reasons. He passed a number of cars the wrong way at speed, one of which was an unmarked Garda vehicle.
After the accused came to a halt on the Tymon North Road, he exited the vehicle and attempted to run off, but was caught by Gardaí who pursued him on foot.
Hyland has 22 previous convictions, including 11 for no insurance, five for driving without a licence, four for dangerous driving, and possession of drugs.
At the time of the offence, he was disqualified from driving for six years and was on bail in respect of other matters, the court heard.
Defending counsel, Keith Spencer BL, said that his client wished to apologise for putting Gardaí and members of the public in danger by his actions, saying that he had never been held in custody before and that the “slamming door principle” had had a profound effect on him.
Hyland had been abusing drink and drugs due to several bereavements, including the death of his mother, Spencer argued.
He was knocked down at the age of 25 and broke his leg, Mr Spencer said, adding that the accused is “Very skilled in terms of cars and mending cars” and wished to become a professional mechanic and open his own business despite his convictions and use of cannabis and cocaine.
Judge Crowe said that the helicopter footage had provided a “very clear summary” of the incident and that Hyland had driven in “an extraordinarily dangerous manner” which had forced Gardaí to deploy a large amount of resources, including officers from numerous stations.
She said that the incident showed a “real escalation” in his offending, given his history of road traffic offences, noting that he is 40 years of age.
Judge Crowe said that Hyland was “driving against the flow of traffic” in “very busy parts of the city” and that his guilty plea was “late” after he had taken a trial date.
She said that the matter would have to be dealt with by means of a custodial sentence before setting a headline sentence of three years, which was reduced to 18 months with the final six months suspended for two years. Hyland must engage with the probation services for 12 months after release and is disqualified from driving for four years from the 1st of January 2027.