Ireland Case No. 18198Dangerous driving · Co. Donegal · 20 Mar 2021
Ryan McCole banned for four years after high-speed chase in Carndonagh
On 20 March 2021, shortly before 9pm, gardaí in Carndonagh, Donegal, saw a car being driven with no lights. The 28-year-old driver, Ryan McCole, ignored a signal to stop and reached speeds of 120kph across several townlands in heavy fog before gardaí ended the pursuit. At a District Court hearing on 20 February 2024, McCole was found guilty of driving without insurance, fined €300 and disqualified from driving for four years. His remaining dangerous driving charges were adjourned to May for a probation and welfare report.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The driver of a car ignored a garda signal to pull over and reached speeds of 120kph across several townlands.
- Where
- The chase took place on narrow country roads in Carndonagh, Co Donegal, in heavy fog and poor visibility.
- When
- Gardaí spotted the car with no lights on just before 9pm on 20 March 2021.
- Other details
- The suspect is Ryan McCole, a 28-year-old man from Quigley's Point, Inishowen.
- Investigation
- Garda Shaun Sweeney activated the patrol car's flashing lights and signalled the driver to pull over.
- Gardaí stopped the pursuit because they judged it too dangerous to continue.
- Gardaí traced the car through its registration to its owner, McCole's sister Michelle, who later admitted her brother was driving. The article reports McCole was arrested on a Tuesday in the Letterkenny Garda Division.
- Charges
- McCole faced several dangerous driving charges, along with charges of driving without insurance and without a driving licence.
- In court
- The court heard that McCole had four previous convictions, including one for dangerous driving.
- The remaining charges were adjourned until May for a probation and welfare report.
- Sentence
- McCole was found guilty of driving without insurance, fined €300 and disqualified from driving for four years.
10 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe driver ignored a garda signal to pull over and drove at speeds of 120kph across several townlands. (donegallive.ie)
- whenRyan McCole was spotted by gardaí driving with no lights on his car in Carndonagh just before 9pm on 20 March 2021. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationGarda Shaun Sweeney activated the patrol car's flashing lights and signalled the driver to pull over. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationGardaí stopped the pursuit because they deemed it too dangerous to continue. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationGardaí traced the car through its registration to the owner, McCole's sister Michelle, who later admitted her brother was driving. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeMcCole faced several dangerous driving charges, along with charges of driving without insurance or a driving licence. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe court heard that McCole had four previous convictions, including for dangerous driving. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe remaining charges were adjourned until May for a probation and welfare report. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceMcCole was found guilty of driving without insurance, fined €300 and disqualified from driving for four years. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe driving took place on narrow country roads in poor visibility caused by heavy fog. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Feb2024Driving ban for Inishowen man who led gardai on high-speed chase
Covers the District Court hearing: conviction on the no insurance charge, €300 fine and four-year ban. The dangerous driving charges were adjourned to May for a probation and welfare report.
convicted, Ryan McCole, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ryan McCole