Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 22696Dangerous driving; endangerment; obstructing a member of An Garda Síochána; driving without insurance · Co. Louth · 25 Apr 2021

Man sentenced after 33km high-speed chase in Louth

Modeste Wilondja, 22, was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court for leading gardaí on a 17-minute, 33-kilometre chase at speeds up to 180 km/h through Louth in April 2021. Judge Dara Hayes suspended a two-and-a-half-year sentence in full and disqualified him from driving for five years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced25 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man led gardaí on a 17-minute chase over 33 kilometres (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe was driving a friend's car (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe appeared nervous when gardaí spoke to him (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe claimed he was travelling from Castleblayney to Dundalk to get fuel (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHis passenger became agitated and he began reversing with the passenger door open (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe reached speeds of up to 180 km/h during the chase (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe narrowly missed a collision by swerving when a garda attempted to stop him in Louth Village (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatA patrol car driver had to pull into the church car park in Knockbridge to avoid an impact (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatA motorist had to pull into a gateway to avoid a collision at Thomastown (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereGardaí spoke to him at a filling station at Lannat, Killany around 8.45pm (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe chase went through mid and north Louth areas including narrow country roads (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereHe turned for Shelagh on the N53 and crossed the border (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 25 April 2021 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • causeHe was afraid the car would be seized (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with endangerment, dangerous driving, obstructing a member of An Garda Síochána, and driving without insurance (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Dara Hayes imposed sentences totalling two and a half years suspended in full on a bond to be of good behaviour for two and a half years (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceHe was disqualified from driving for five years (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceHe must complete a certificate of competency before his licence is restored (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherHe had not come to adverse attention since the incident (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Jan2023
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Man led gardai on high speed chase, Dundalk court heard

    Sentencing hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court; details of the chase, the suspended sentence and the five-year driving disqualification.

    accused, Modeste Wilondja, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Modeste Wilondja