A 23-year-old who hit a garda patrol car with a scrambler bike has had his four-month jail sentence halved on appeal, with a judge said he had to mark his concern about such bikes.
Craig Kennedy (23) was convicted of dangerous driving and the criminal damage of a garda vehicle bumper in relation to the collision.
Kennedy, with an address at St Ronan’s Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 was convicted in the District Court of dangerous driving contrary to section 53(1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961. He was also convicted of driving without insurance and criminal damage to a garda vehicle bumper.
Kennedy was sentenced to four months in custody, consecutive to another sentence for a separate matter. He also received a two-year disqualification and a fine of €500. He later lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence.
Sergeant Shay Leonard told the District Court Appeals Court that on May 8, 2022, Kennedy was driving a scrambler bike out of an estate in the area of Collinstown Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
He said that Kennedy tried to avoid gardai, but ended up hitting the patrol car and fell off his bike.
A defence solicitor for Kennedy said that his client injured his own knee when he collided with the car.
She said that Kennedy has very significant mental health difficulties and poor behavioural management. She said that he is currently attending school while in custody and that he has employment lined up upon his release.
The defence solicitor asked that the judge make Kennedy’s sentence concurrent to another term he is currently serving.
She said that the offending took place over a period that was turbulent and that Kennedy was living a “chaotic lifestyle” at the time. She said that he had expressed remorse for the accident and had entered a guilty plea.
Judge Geoffrey Shannon said that it was a very serious incident and that there are very profound implications for driving in this manner.
The judge said that he had to mark the court’s concern in relation to scrambler bikes and the “very far reaching consequences” they can have.
He decided to suspend two of the four months of imprisonment on the condition that Kennedy engages with the Men Overcoming Violent Emotions organisation upon release.
He also kept the sentence consecutive to his other custody matter.