Ireland Louth teenager sentenced over 2022 high-speed chase in stolen car
In the early hours of 10 August 2022, Tadhg Keely, then 17 and from Louth, took a Toyota Aqua stolen from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin, and led gardaí on a 40-minute high-speed chase through Dublin and Kildare, driving from Tallaght to Ballymore Eustace at over 160km/h. Keely, now 19 and of Carlingford, Co Louth, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing the car, endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass and dangerous driving on the N7 in Naas. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison with the final year suspended, a three-year driving ban and one year of probation supervision on release. The latest development is the reporting of this sentence on 26 and 27 January 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced26 Jan
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The Toyota Aqua was stolen from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
- A 17-year-old from Louth led gardaí on a 40-minute high-speed chase through Dublin and Kildare.
- Where
- Keely drove from Tallaght to Ballymore Eustace at speeds of over 160km/h.
- When
- The offences took place in the early hours of 10 August 2022.
- Cause
- The court heard Keely was using drugs and alcohol at the time of the offence.
- Investigation
- At one point, ten garda patrol cars with lights and sirens activated were involved in the chase.
- Other details
- Keely broke red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road and struck one roundabout head-on, causing the car to become airborne.
- On arrest, Keely told gardaí he was going to meet a girl.
- Charges
- Keely pleaded guilty to stealing the Toyota Aqua from Belview Court, Blackrock.
- Keely pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass.
- Keely pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at speed on the N7 in Naas, Co Kildare.
- In court
- At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan said the incident was extremely dangerous.
- The final year of the sentence was suspended because of Keely's young age, guilty plea and difficult background.
- Sentence
- Keely was sentenced to three and a half years in prison with the final year suspended, a three-year driving ban and one year of probation supervision on release.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe Toyota Aqua was stolen from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin. (kildarenow.com)
- whatA Louth teenager led gardaí on a 40-minute high-speed chase through Dublin and Kildare. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereKeely drove from Tallaght to Ballymore Eustace. (kildarenow.com)
- whereKeely drove from Tallaght to Ballymore Eustace at speeds of over 160km/h. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe offences took place in the early hours of August 10, 2022. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe incident took place in the early hours of August 10, 2022. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeKeely led gardaí on a 40-minute high-speed chase through Dublin and Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationTen garda patrol cars with lights and sirens activated were involved in the chase. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationAt one point, ten garda patrol cars with lights and sirens activated were involved in the chase. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeKeely pleaded guilty to stealing a Toyota Aqua from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin. (kildarenow.com, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeKeely pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass. (kildarenow.com, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeKeely admitted dangerous driving at speed on the N7 in Naas, Co Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeKeely admitted to dangerous driving at speed on the N7 in Naas, Co Kildare. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (kildarenow.com)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan said the incident was extremely dangerous. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe court heard Keely was using drugs and alcohol at the time of the offence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe final year was suspended on the basis of Keely's young age, guilty plea and difficult background. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceKeely was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended. (kildarenow.com, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceKeely was disqualified from driving for three years. (kildarenow.com, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceKeely was ordered to undergo one year of probation supervision on release from prison. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceKeely was ordered to undergo probation supervision for one year on release from prison. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherKeely drove at speeds of over 160kmph, breaking lights and driving on the wrong side of the road. (kildarenow.com)
- otherThe final year was suspended because of Keely's young age, guilty plea and difficult background. (kildarenow.com)
- otherKeely told gardaí on arrest that he was going to meet a girl. (kildarenow.com, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherKeely struck one roundabout head-on, causing the stolen car to become airborne. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Jan2024Louth teenager led Gardaí on high speed chase in stolen car 'to meet a girl'
Reports the sentencing of Tadhg Keely for the August 2022 chase, with court details, guilty pleas, sentence and driving disqualification. Existing case 17809 concerns a different 2024 criminal damage incident in Tuckmilltown, so no case is matched.
convicted, Tadhg Keely, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Keely - 26 Jan2024Teenager led gardaí on high-speed chase through Kildare and Dublin "to meet a girl"
Reports the sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court: three and a half years with the final year suspended, a three-year driving ban, and one year of probation supervision on release. Keely pleaded guilty to stealing the Toyota Aqua, one count of endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass, and dangerous driving on the N7 in Naas. He was 17 at the time of the offence.
convicted, Tadhg Keely, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Keely