Suspended sentence after drunken pursuit through Moy checkpoints
A COLLEGELAND man has been given a suspended jail term after he narrowly avoided knocking down a police officer as he drunkenly attempted to drive through a checkpoint.
Appearing to be sentenced at East Tyrone Magistrate’s Court was John Joseph Hagan, 23, from Lislasley Road.
He had been found guilty of driving with excess alcohol, taking a car without authority, no insurance, two counts of dangerous driving, and two counts of failing to stop for police on April 18. All charges relate to incidents on Benburb Road and Charlemont Street in Moy.
The court heard how police were at a checkpoint in the Moy area around 12.50am when they observed a car, driven by the defendant, approach and then drove straight through the group of officers, almost striking one.
They pursued Mr Hagan and saw him drive through another checkpoint on Benburb Road, this time getting close enough to knock the torch out of one officer’s hand.
The police chased Mr Hagan for almost a mile before he pulled the car over. Police had to assist him from the driver’s seat. He subsequently gave a sample of breath over twice the limit.
His solicitor told the court that his client, who has a young son, was a “disappointment to his parents” and that the only thing he did that was sensible on the night in question was to pull over and accept his guilt immediately.
The court was told that the defendant had his girlfriend in the car who was sober, but that he refused to vacate the driver’s seat of her father’s car.
He said that Mr Hagan accepted that he could have caused serious injury and was very concerned that he would be dealt with by an immediate custodial sentence. He appealed to District Judge John Meehan to sentence him to probation as he required direction.
“This court is not here to assist you,” Judge Meehan told the defendant. “You put a lot of people in serious danger. Your record starts in 2007 and you had the opportunity then to avail of services through your GP. That was five years ago and you did nothing.
“You are not going to walk away from this situation by thinking that this court will set you up with help. You present a danger to the public and the only response to that is a custodial sentence.”
Judge Meehan handed down a three month prison sentence which he suspended for two years, and fines totalling £800.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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