EchoLive.ie, 10 May
The young man has been in custody since the incident and appeared for
sentencing at Cork District Court by video link from prison.
'Very alarming': Motorist who went on 'driving rampage' in Cork city
jailed
A motorist who was desperately trying to evade a drugs search took off
on a rampage of dangerous driving that did not end until he was
involved in a head-on crash into a car in which a woman and a child
were travelling and the car extensively damaged. Pic: Larry Cummins
Liam Heylin
A motorist who was desperately trying to evade a drugs search took off
on a rampage of dangerous driving that did not end until he was
involved in a head-on crash into a car in which a woman and a child
were travelling and the car extensively damaged.
Judge Mary Dorgan said at Cork District Court: “It was a significant
accident. He was not insured so it now falls to be dealt with by the
Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland. I recall the case – it was very bad.
“It was a very alarming situation. The guards were trying to stop him
in connection with a drugs matter and he went on what can only be
described as a driving rampage.”
24-year-old Lukas Mikoliunas of no fixed address in Cork city was
sentenced to a total of six months in custody, disqualified from
driving for four years and put on a post-release probation bond. This
followed his plea of guilty to a variety of charges arising out of the
incident last February, including having cannabis for sale or supply,
dangerous driving and having no insurance.
The young man has been in custody since the incident and appeared for
sentencing at Cork District Court by video link from prison.
Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the background to the incident
previously.
“At 3.30 in the afternoon of February 19 at Bandon Road he was driving
the 04-registered Mercedes which failed to stop for gardaí.
“He took off at speed along Magazine Road. He failed to stop at red
lights. He turned on to College Road and then on to Orchard Road where
he collided head-on with a Toyota Corolla while attempting to evade
gardaí.
“€500 worth of cannabis was found on the floor of the car on the
passenger side."
In relation to the plea of guilty to having drugs for sale or supply,
the judge noted that this would have been very difficult to prove
without his admission.
“What happened on the day was very, very difficult for the people
involved. This is very very serious.
“He needs to look at what is going on in his life. It is good to see
his girlfriend nodding her head because he is going to need the
support. I am going to put him on a post-release probation bond.
“You must attend the probation service an do what they tell you to do.
I am going to put in a condition about victim empathy, addiction
services and to attend to your driving, which quite frankly is the
worst that I have seen since I have started dealing with these
matters.”