Dundalk court: Jailed for robbery and ramming garda cars

A 28 year old Dublin man who produced a screwdriver during a robbery on the main Dublin/Belfast road in Northern Ireland and rammed a number of garda patrol cars which intercepted him on the M1 was jailed for three years at Dundalk Circuit Court and banned from driving for 15 years.

Alan Melia of Cherry Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot pleaded guilty to robbing £717 sterling and about €480 at Applegreen, Tullynacross, Lisburn on August 23rd 2020, causing criminal damage to a garda vehicle on the M1 at Newtownbalregan, Dundalk on the same date and two counts of dangerous driving on the motorway at Braganstown and Drumleck.

The defendant, who was armed with a screwdriver, and another individual entered the filling station shortly before 3pm and escaped with the tills in a black Ford Focus, which had the back window smashed in.

Its registration was passed on to Gardai in the Dundalk district, with one crew in an unmarked patrol car driving slowly on the M1.

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The getaway car subsequently passed them and the defendant stopped, on the blue lights and siren being activated, when the observer in the patrol car got out, he had to jump out of the way, as the car reversed smashing into the patrol car.

Other members joined the pursuit, and the Ford Focus turned at Applegreen Castlebellingham southbound, and travelled northbound, forcing one motorist to brake to avoid a head-on collision.

Two further Garda vehicles were damaged in intercepting Alan Melia, including one used by the Armed Support Unit.

The defendant claimed that he’d been asleep in the car, and made no admissions in the course of a number of Garda interviews.

He had 92 previous convictions including robbery and dangerous driving, and was under a 15 year driving ban at the time of the offences before the court.

The Defence barrister, who stressed that no guards or members of the public were injured in the incident, said his client was very easily led and has an immaturity that is unbelievable.

The counsel added the birth of his son 15 months ago has been a ‘wakening’ moment for Alan Melia, who wants to make a better life for himself, his partner and their son.

Judge Patrick Quinn imposed a four year sentence for the endangerment offence with the final two years suspended on Mr. Melia entering a bond to be of good behaviour for 12 months.

He also disqualified the defendant from driving for 15 years. Concurrent sentences of 12 months and four months respectively were imposed for causing criminal damage to the first patrol car that was hit and both dangerous driving charges.