A man who drove a stolen car at 100mph through Cork city centre, crashing through red lights and travelling the wrong way down one-way streets, was out on bail at the time of the offence. William Kenny (24), of Colmcille Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, was involved in a high-speed chase with gardai on May 28th, 1999 after a stolen car was spotted travelling on the main Mallow road. Det Sgt Dave Foley said Kenny drove the car at up to 100mph and was seen travelling on the wrong side of the road. Eventually, the road was blocked at the Commons Inn junction and he drove up a nearby housing estate, where he crashed into a patrol car. The stolen car was written off and over £600 worth of damage was caused to the Garda car.
Kenny, who had 20 previous convictions, mainly concerning stolen cars, was driving while disqualified for 12 years as a result of an incident in 1995. While out on bail on the May 28th charges, he was involved in another high-speed chase with gardai, this time from Kinsale, where he stole a BMW, on September 5th. Det Garda Derek Mulcahy said Kenny drove the wrong way around the Kinsale roundabout and then drove down the outbound dual carriageway lane into Cork city at high speed. Kenny drove the wrong way up one-way streets in the centre and crashed through red lights.
Gardai had to divert traffic away from his route At one junction, the car sideswiped the chasing Garda car. When it reached the city centre, it crashed into a parked car in which there were two people who suffered injuries. Kenny then reversed at speed into the Garda Ford Mondeo which had stopped behind him in an effort to get away. He sped off again but was stopped by roadworks. Again, he reversed into the patrol car and mounted the bonnet before he and accomplice, Derek Lynch (20), of Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeney, jumped from the car and ran away. Judge Patrick Moran in the Cork Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Kenny to nine years jail, stating it was lucky that no one was killed in either incident.
Lynch, who was described as "the eternal follower, incapable of saying no in a gang situation", was sentenced to four years for allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car.