09-05-2025
Driver banned after leading gardai in dangerous chase on wrong side of road
Josh Bradley appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he pleaded guilty to the charges arising out of the incident on May 19th, 2024.
A Co Donegal driver who led Gardai on a dangerous pursuit driving on the wrong side of the road, swerving across the path of pursuing Gardai and ignoring stop signs, has been fined and put off the road.
Josh Bradley appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he pleaded guilty to the charges arising out of the incident on May 19th, 2024.
The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, drink-driving and driving without insurance.
The court heard that Bradley, of Ballykerrigan, Cloghan, was observed acting suspiciously in a vehicle parked up at Meeting House Street in Stranorlar at 1.48am.
Sergeant Jim Collins said that when approached by Gardai, the black Nissan X-Trail jeep reversed and then drove off leaving Gardai being forced to swerve to avoid the patrol car being struck.
Josh Bradley at Letterkenny District Court. (North West Newspix)
News in 90 Seconds - May 9th
Gardai activated their lights and sirens as the vehicle headed towards McClay's Corner where it engaged in a number of dangerous driving manoeuvres including driving on the wrong side of the road.
The jeep then drove on towards Ard McCool where the driver ignored 'stop' signs and when Gardai tried to overtake the offending vehicle, it swerved in their way.
The jeep was eventually stopped and when the driver was later tested, a positive reading of 55 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood was given.
It was later discovered that the accused, Josh Bradley, was not insured to drive the vehicle.
Sergeant Collins said the accused man was very apologetic when he sobered up and confirmed he has no previous convictions.
Solicitor for Bradley, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said his client was in college but also worked part-time.
He said the incident on the night was a stupid mistake and completely out of character and that his parents were very concerned for Mr Bradley.
Mr Gallagher added that this appeared to be "youthful stupidness" and that nothing like this had ever happened in Mr Bradley's formative years and described the incident as a "blip."
However, Judge Eiteain Cunningham intervened saying "this was more than a blip" adding that Bradley's actions on the night had put Gardai and other road users at risk.
Mr Gallagher replied that his client had since completed and passed the Pro Social Driving Course and confirmed Bradley had not come to the attention of Gardaí since the incident.
Passing sentence, Judge Cunningham noted Bradley had completed the Pro Social Driving Course but added that the accused was lucky he was not looking at a suspended jail sentence.
She added that this was because he had no previous convictions, that hopefully he has learned his lesson and also that he has completed the Pro Social Driving Course.
She fined Bradley €200 and disqualified him from driving for two years for drunk driving, fined him a further €100 and disqualified him from driving for two years for dangerous driving while a charge of driving without a license was struck out.
