A MAN who drove a stolen taxi directly at a Garda checkpoint and later swerved towards a patrol van after gardaí ran to avoid being hit has been sentenced to six years for this and other offences.
Gary O’Brien (22) was spotted by gardaí driving at speed while they were carrying out alcohol testing at the checkpoint in Rathmines, Dublin. They indicated the driver to slow down but he refused to do so and gardaí had to jump out of the vehicle’s path.
O’Brien, Rathmines Avenue, Rathmines, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the unauthorised taking of a car, dangerous driving and driving without insurance on February 20th, 2009. He also pleaded guilty to robbery and to other attempted robberies. He had 33 previous convictions.
Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced O’Brien to six years in jail but suspended the final two.