Man in jail for dangerous driving sentenced for a separate case of dangerous driving

A 27-year-old man who is serving over seven years for dangerous driving incidents in Louth and Monaghan, was sentenced at Dundalk District Court last week over a separate case of dangerous driving.

Court presenter Sgt Richie Browne outlined how gardaí were on mobile patrol in Ardee on April 13th 2024 when Darren Winters of Cuirt Droim Ard, Carrickmacross performed a u-turn in front of them and despite them indicating at him to stop, he accelerated and drove the wrong way around roundabouts at Cappocksgreen and Glebe and drove erratically at Pepperstown and Charlestown.

He failed to stop at a Stop sign and continued to drive erratically through Tallanstown and Rathbrist.

The Defence barrister said his client is serving a cumulative sentence of seven years and one month for dangerous driving imposed by Dundalk and Monaghan Circuit Courts and was disqualified from driving for 14 years last November.

He added the offending was of a similar nature and a psychological report prepared for those sentencing hearings referred to his client being physically abused as a child.

He began drinking at the age of eight and his remorse had been highlighted in one of the reports before the court.

Judge Nicola Andrews imposed a six months sentence for one of the dangerous driving charges and disqualified him from driving for four years.

He was also fined €1,000 for driving without insurance payable forthwith (with one week in default).