A 22-year-old woman who drove through three Garda checkpoints on July 3 last before evading gardaí for almost an hour in a high speed chase was before Ballina District Court this week.
Amanda Flynn of Ballymanagh, Ballina, was accompanied by her employer who she had picked up from a drinking premises when she ‘panicked’ and drove through a mandatory alcohol checkpoint at Ardagh, Ballina at 3.10am.
The young woman who is an employee for an agricultural contractor was asked by Judge Mary Devins “Did you not care if you killed or injured a garda?”. She had issues surrounding insurance and she told the court she had panicked when she saw the checkpoint ahead. “I thought I was going to be put off the road anyway so I kept going.”
Flynn was subsequently pursued by the gardai who witnessed her driving in an erratic manner at speed at various locations on her journey. On the main Crossmolina road she was observed swerving her vehicle from left to right in a dangerous manner.
Gardai set up a checkpoint in Ardagh. Approaching the checkpoint the offending vehicle was almost halted, however moments later Miss Flynn careered into a patrol car. The defendant subsequently left the scene and sped off.
Almost a full sixty minutes after the chase began at 3:58am. Ms Flynn was arrested and brought to Ballina Garda Station when a checkpoint at Rathbal proved successful in intercepting her. The defendant was tested for alcohol and drugs buthad none in her system.
Her solicitor said that this behaviour was completely out of character for Ms Flynn who had no previous convictions. He said ‘reason went out the window’ on the night in question after she agreed to pick up her employer Shane McLoughlin (40) in her uninsured car and saw the checkpoint ahead. The court heard Mr McLoughlin had subsequently declined to make a witness statement and had insisted he did not want anything to do with the case.
Ms Flynn’s father told the court his daughter was a hard worker and had performed well in education and in employment. Judge Mary Devins said Ms Flynn was facing a custodial sentence and stated that she could not remember such an extreme case of dangerous driving from a sober woman.
Judge Mary Devins asked for a probation report and adjourned the case until March 22 next.
