1996/99
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Drove at 60mph through housing estate endangering children
6 May 1998
Concurrent jail term for 'nasty piece of work'
A MAN described as "unreformed and a nasty piece of work" was given three prison terms at Ballina court for charges of public order, assault and dangerous driving.
David Delaney, 21 Bunree Road, Ballina, will serve the sentences concurrent to a three year sentence he is presently serving. He was also fined £100 on two charges of non-display of a tax disc.
Garda Joe Dolan told the court on May 28 last he stopped Delaney driving a car that had no tax. The defendant became abusive, called the Garda names and told him to f-off. The car was not registered in Delaney's name.
On December 23 last at 3.40p.m. Garda Dolan was leaving the Greenhills Estate when he saw Delaney go in to the estate in a car that had no tax and no tax displayed. He turned the patrol car to follow the driver.
Delaney drove on at over 60 mph. There were children playing on the footpaths at the time. The defendant was going back and forth on the road and the Garda was afraid he would lose control.
Garda Dolan said Delaney then did a hand-brake turn in to a narrow lane way. He found the car parked but there was no sign of the driver.
When he later questioned the driver "he had a smirk on his face and said he was only learning to drive. He walked away."
David Delaney told the court on the first occasion the Garda had got into the car and was searching the glove compartment. The Garda did not mention he was searching for drugs and said he would search what he wanted.
On the second occasion he said he was driving at between 30 and 40 mph maximum. There were no children playing around the estate.
Inspector Michael Hussey put it to the defendant: "You have no great love for the Garda Siochana."
Delaney: "They have no great love for me."
On the two charges of non display of a tax disc Judge Dan Shields imposed £50 fines. A public order charge was marked proved and taken in to account.
He also passed sentence on other charges before the court imposing three months sentences on charges of public order, assault and dangerous driving to be served concurrent to the three years sentence being presently served.
He also endorsed Delaney's licence and disqualified him from driving for a year.
Judge Shields said: "There is very much an attitude of confrontation and an inclination not to take responsibility for his own actions and to blame the Garda Siochana for what's happened to him. It is unfortunately his own fault."
He continued: "I have taken a large number of occasions of putting matters back for reports to try and see if anything could be done with David Delaney but his own attitude and his present attitude does appear to indicate he will continue to offend in the same way and he can not expect people to have regard for his sensibility's when he is unreformed and a nasty piece of work.
"He can take it to be lucky that I have not added to the existing sentences."
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - May 1998
