Ireland Man jailed for drugs and dangerous driving after garda pursuit in Tipperary
Jonathan O'Donnell of Boula, Portumna, Co Tipperary, was the subject of a garda pursuit from near Toomevara to Portumna bridge, which ended with his car colliding with a garda patrol car at a checkpoint. The pursuit date is not stated in the reports. On March 25, 2019, he pleaded to possession of drugs for sale or supply, endangerment, dangerous driving and having no insurance, and he had admitted the 544 Alprazolam tablets found in his bag were to clear a drug debt. The case was reported in May 2023, when Judge John Martin at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to three years in jail, with the final 12 months suspended if he enters a two-year bond to keep the peace after release.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced11 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Jonathan O'Donnell of Boula, Portumna, was the driver subject to a garda pursuit.
- Gardaí found 544 Alprazolam tablets valued at €1,088 in a bag in his possession.
- Where
- The pursuit ran from near Toomevara to Portumna bridge, starting at Templedowney.
- When
- The pursuit date is not stated in the reports.
- Investigation
- Det Garda Seamus Kelly said he saw a vehicle driving at speed and activated the patrol car's blue light, after which the driver fled towards Toomevara.
- Other details
- The driver failed to stop at several stop signs and tried to reverse, colliding with the garda patrol car at a checkpoint on Portumna bridge.
- He failed to produce insurance or a driving licence.
- He admitted the drugs were to clear a drug debt, and the judge said he had been acting as a mule to settle a debt.
- The collision caused €7,436.94 in damage, and he paid €2,250 in compensation for damage to the garda car.
- Cause
- He said he failed to stop because of the amount of drugs he was carrying.
- Charges
- He pleaded to possession of drugs for sale or supply, endangerment, dangerous driving and having no insurance at Lahinch, Lorrha, on March 25, 2019.
- In court
- The case was heard at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court before Judge John Martin.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to three years in jail.
- The final 12 months are suspended if he enters a bond to keep the peace for two years after release.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- what544 Alprazolam tablets valued at €1,088 were found in a bag in his possession. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whatHe failed to produce insurance or a driving licence. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whereThe pursuit ran from near Toomevara to Portumna bridge. (tipperarylive.ie)
- causeHe said he failed to stop because of the amount of drugs he was carrying. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationA garda on patrol observed a vehicle driving at speed and activated the patrol car's blue light. (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeHe was jailed for possession of drugs for sale or supply, endangerment and dangerous driving. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court before Judge John Martin. (tipperarylive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge sentenced him to three years in jail. (tipperarylive.ie)
- sentenceThe final 12 months were suspended if he entered a bond to keep the peace for two years after release. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe driver failed to stop at several stop signs during the pursuit. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe driver tried to reverse and collided with the garda patrol car at a Portumna bridge checkpoint. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe collision caused €7,436.94 in damage. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherHe had admitted the drugs were to clear a drug debt. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherHe had paid €2,250 in compensation for damage to the garda car. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe article says he pleaded to the offences on March 25, 2019. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe judge said he had been acting as a mule to settle a debt. (tipperarylive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 11 May2023Man 'acting as a drugs mule' is jailed after he collided with garda car following pursuit
Reports the Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court sentencing of Jonathan O'Donnell, including the pursuit, collision with a garda car, the seizure of tablets, and the sentence. The pursuit date is not stated in the article.
convicted, Jonathan O'Donnell, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jonathan O'Donnell