A garda was spotted driving the wrong way down a one-way Luas-line street in Dublin and then "took off at speed" when other gardaí tried to take the keys out of the ignition and arrest him for drink driving, a court heard yesterday.
James Keaty (27), who has now resigned from the force but was stationed in Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, escaping from lawful custody, drink driving and having a tax disc on his car which was three months out of date.
Dublin District Court heard that Insp John Quirke and a colleague spotted the car driving the wrong way down Harcourt Street, along the Luas line, at around 3.30am on March 11th, 2005.
When they stopped the car, Keaty said he was a member of the Garda, but when told he was being arrested for drink driving, he "took off at speed", Supt Albert G Treacy told the court. One of Insp Quirke's fingers was slightly injured as he tried to take the keys out of the ignition,
The car was found shortly afterwards locked up and parked on the Luas line at Charlemont Bridge. Luas operators, Connex, had to have the vehicle towed away before its service resumed later that morning.
The court heard that Keaty, who was brought up in Palmerstown, Dublin, and now lives in Portlaoise, had been a garda for six years and his father had served 35 years in the force.
"It is a matter of major embarrassment", his lawyer told Judge Mary Collins.
He had bought a house in Portlaoise with his partner and they had a young child. Around this time, his partner no longer had a job in the town and he was travelling to and from Portlaoise to work.
He also suffered from depression, had been on medication and on the night of the incident, "the whole thing came together and he met a few friends and had a few drinks".
Judge Collins banned him from driving for two years and fined him a total of €800, including €500 for having an out-of-date tax disc.