Dangerous driving accused sped away from Gardaí at over 200km/h

A judge is considering a custodial sentence in the case of a young man facing multiple dangerous driving charges, including speeds in excess of 200km per hour after ignoring Garda sirens and blue lights.

Destiny Ezenna (19), with an address at River Village, Athlone, Co Roscommon, appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at a sitting of Athlone District Court, where he faced a large number of dangerous driving charges.

Outlining the evidence to the court, Sergeant Paul McNally, prosecuting, said that, shortly after 8pm on December 6, 2024, a blue BMW was observed on Southern Station Road driving with no lights on.

The same vehicle was then observed driving dangerously on nine separate occasions on various sections of the Ballymahon Road, Clonbrusk, Cloghanboy and the N55, before it was stopped and Gardaí identified the driver at the scene as the accused man.

The nature of those dangerous driving offences included a number of incidents where the car overtook multiple vehicles in a dangerous manner, forcing oncoming traffic to swerve or break, overtaking other vehicles at speed, entering a roundabout at speed, and driving through red lights and causing other road users to brake suddenly.

When he was stopped and a demand was made to produce documents, it was alleged that, while the vehicle was registered to Mr Ezenna, he did not have insurance or an NCT. He was also found to be driving without a licence.

This resulted in further charges of driving without insurance, NCT and a licence, and failure to produce insurance cert, NCT cert or a licence.

The road was dry on the night, Sgt McNally explained, but it was dark and visibility was poor, except for street lights.

Three further dangerous driving charges relate to speeding on the M6 on June 19, 2025, after 10.15pm, from junction 10 westbound in Athlone to junction 15 in Ballinasloe.

Gardaí conducting a patrol observed the vehicle driving in excess of 200km per hour and proceeded to follow the accused with lights and sirens but he failed to stop and Gardaí were directed to slow down.

Mr Ezenna has pleaded guilty to a total of six dangerous driving charges including those from June 19, 2025, and three from December 6, 2024.

Patrick Carty, solicitor for the defence, told the court that “every time I meet with this gentleman, I have to remind myself that he is only 19 and was only 18 years old at the time of the offences.”

“I think it is simply a series of very bad decisions. He saw the blue lights and decided to keep going. It was a moment of madness with an element of immature bravado,” he said.

Mr Ezenna is currently in his second year of college in Galway and lives with his mother. The court heard that he has other charges for a “similar high speed chase” due before Mullingar District Court on February 5 for a plea or to set a hearing date.

The probation report, Mr Carty said, shows “a lack of insight” into his actions, and “a certain immaturity”.

Judge Owens noted that Mr Ezenna was admitted to bail in March of last year and so the June 19 charges were committed while on bail and would therefore result in consecutive prison sentences, should a custodial sentence be imposed.

“When I read that probation report, I was seriously thinking the only option was a custodial sentence. He had the opportunity to engage with probation services but it seems he decided he’d take his chances and thought there would be no serious consequences,” she said.

However, she directed a further probation report to give him a chance “to contemplate his view with regard to the various offences”.

“He may well be revisiting what his insight is,” she said.

She remanded Mr Ezenna on continuing bail with the added condition that he does not drive any mechanically propelled vehicle, on the basis he has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, which carries a mandatory disqualification.

She also directed the further probation report to cover the charges before Mullingar District Court, as well as an assessment for 240 hours of community service, “without making any promises” that he would avoid a custodial sentence.

Mr Ezenna will reappear before Athlone District Court on April 22, 2026.