Man who allegedly rammed Garda car with a stolen van during three county chase has been refused bail

A 50-yr-old man accused of ramming a Garda vehicle with a stolen van during a cross-county chase from Dublin into Meath and Kildare has been refused bail, reports The Mirror.

Anthony Dowling, of Fortlawn Drive, Clonsilla, Dublin, has been charged with stealing a Ford Transit van, dangerous driving, and causing criminal damage in the early hours of Friday. He appeared before Judge Catherine Ghent at Dublin District Court yesterday.

He responded “I didn’t take” anything to the charge relating to motor theft. Garda Richard Finnegan told the court that the van and a car had been stolen after intruders broke into a woman’s home on Thursday, reports The Mirror.

During a contested bail application, the court was told that Gardaí on patrol spotted the van in the Clonee area at around 4.45 am on Friday.

Garda Finnegan stated the man was caught in the act. He alleged that the van driver led Gardaí on a chase that first went to Dunboyne, where the vehicle stopped and “reversed” into a Garda car, reports The Mirror.

The Gardaí pulled back “to prevent further ramming” and continued pursuit to Maynooth. The court heard that there was another attempt to reverse into a Garda vehicle.

The court was told that the van was later abandoned in Adamstown, west Dublin, and the accused was allegedly discovered hiding in a nearby building with the van keys beside him. Garda Finnegan also claimed that during the chase, the accused had been seen driving and at one point turned in front of the Gardaí, reports The Mirror.

Garda Finnegan acknowledged to defence solicitor John Quinn that the accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence. He also informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions will be consulted regarding potential additional charges. The defence argued that Mr Dowling could be granted bail under strict conditions, which he confirmed he would follow.

Bail was refused, and he was remanded in custody to reappear on Thursday. Legal aid was approved, reports The Mirror.

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