Lifford man jailed after 110kph chase with Gardai

A person who led Gardai on a high-speed chase by way of the streets of Ballybofey has been given a six month jail sentence.

Letterkenny District Court docket heard how pedestrians needed to take evasive motion when James Mitchell hit speeds of over 110km/h.

At 1.28am on April 23, 2023, Gardai noticed Mitchell getting right into a car at Glenfin Avenue, Ballybofey. Gardai have been conscious {that a} bench warrant was in existence for Mitchell.

Upon seeing the Gardai, Mitchell took off at velocity and pulled onto Ballybofey Major Avenue into the trail of oncoming site visitors. Sergeant Jim Collins outlined the case to the court docket and informed how Mitchell compelled motorists and pedestrians to take avoidance motion.

The 42-year-old with an deal with at Finnside Shut, Lifford, Mitchell appeared by way of video hyperlink from Castlerea Jail, the place he’s presently incarcerated.

Sergeant Collins stated Mitchell drove in ‘an unsafe and harmful’ method. Mitchell sped as much as 90km/h on Ballybofey’s Major Avenue and crossed over the centre strains on quite a few events.

Mitchell turned onto Navenny Avenue and once more individuals needed to take avoidance motion with the driving force entering into extra of 110km/h.

Gardai subsequently spoke to Mitchell and made a lawful demand to supply paperwork, however none got to officers.

The accused was additionally earlier than the court docket charged with prison harm to a automobile belonging to a girl he had beforehand been in a relationship with. The court docket heard that the windscreen was broken and that the tyres have been slashed.

Sergeant Collins stated there was ‘in depth harm’ triggered to the car. When interviewed by Gardai, Mitchell admitted the incident and apologised.

Mr Michael Shiel, solicitor for Mitchell, stated his consumer was on the run and he ‘simply fled as a result of he didn’t need the bench warrant to be executed’. Mr Shiel stated Mitchell was sentenced to a 20-month jail sentence final month and stated this matter would have been included on that date had the State been ready to take care of it then.

Concerning the harm to the automobile, Mr Shiel stated there was ‘lots of toxicity between the events’ and stated his consumer has admitted his wrongdoing.

On one of many harmful driving fees, Choose Éiteáin Cunningham sentenced Mitchell to 4 months in jail. For the prison harm to the automobile, Mitchell was given a two-month jail sentence. Different fees have been considered. The sentences are to run consecutive to every and concurrent to the sentence presently being served by Mitchell.

Noting {that a} ten-year driving disqualification had been imposed not too long ago, Choose Cunningham struck out two different fees of harmful driving.

Final month, Mitchell was jailed for a raft of offences, together with ten of harmful driving, in addition to a glut of thefts in Letterkenny and with dealing with stolen property.

Lifford man jailed after 110kph chase with Gardai was final modified: September sixth, 2023 by Employees Author