The brother of a man involved in an incident in which a Garda was killed has appeared in court facing a catalogue of dangerous driving offences.
Kevin Dunleavy leaving court. Pic by Northwest Newspix.
Kevin Dunleavy appeared at Letterkenny District Court yesterday following an incident in which he led Gardai on a 25 km chase.
Dunleavy’s brother Cathal served a jail sentence for an incident in which Garda Robbie McCallion died in Letterkenny in 2009.
Cathal Dunleavy was released recently from prison after being jailed for five years for his part in the crime.
Judge Paul Kelly was told that Kevin Dunleavy, 29, from Meentagh, Kerrykeel, has already been banned from driving for four times.
The court was given a detailed version of the pursuit which happened on August 8th 2012.
Gda Inspector Michael Harrison revealed how his officers had to take evasive action to avoid colliding with Dunleavy’s speeding car.
The car reached speeds of 150kms per hour and even went onto the wrong side of the road on several occasions.
Pursuing Gardai eventually stopped as they deemed it too dangerous to the public to continue.
Even when Gardai attended Dunleavy’s house, he managed to speed off after he saw them waiting for him.
Dunleavy had 69 previous convictions for motoring offences, and had been banned from driving on four occasions for periods of 18, 25, another 25 and 30 years.
His solicitor Donagh Cleary said his client accepted his behaviour had been intolerable.
But added that he hadn’t been before the court on road charges since 2010.
A surprised Judge Kelly said “Well he wouldn’t have done as he has been banned from driving for 30 years”.
However his solicitor said his client wads a changed man and wanted just another chance.
He then asked that a probation report be carried out on the accused.
The Judge added “I can’t see how I can deal with this case in any other way that by way of a custodial sentence.
“It is the worst case of its kind by a considerable distance – the worst I’ve seen either in practice or on the bench – with someone driving like this over 25kms through small towns and villages and side roads.”
The case was adjourned until June 18th.