Personal trainer jailed over 160km/h Dublin car chase | Breaking News & Latest Ireland Updates

Personal trainer jailed over 160km/h Dublin car chase — A personal trainer has been jailed for speeding a high-powered car at 160km/h and leading gardaí on a pursuit through a south Dublin suburb. Cian Duff...

A personal trainer has been jailed for speeding a high-powered car at 160km/h and leading gardaí on a pursuit through a south Dublin suburb.

Cian Duffy, 34, of Old County Glen, Crumlin, Dublin 12, pleaded not guilty to four counts of dangerous driving a BMW 5 series car which carried three other passengers during the 4 am incident in Rathfarnham on 24 April last year.

However, Judge John Hughes found him guilty following a hearing at Dublin District Court, which led to him being jailed for three months and ordered not to drive any motor vehicle for two years.

Sentencing, Judge Hughes remarked, "It was by the grace of God he did not kill somebody or maim someone."

Duffy, who claimed he was a passenger in the car, was fined €1,000 and ordered to remain on supervised probation for two years.

In evidence, Garda Jack Hamilton and Stephen Byrne recalled that they had been on patrol when the 2017-reg car driven by Duffy was sighted turning onto Churchtown Road Upper.

The court heard their squad car activated its lights and sirens but the BMW failed to stop, increasing speed at Nutgrove Avenue.

It was estimated to be going at least 160km/h at the junction with Rathfarnham Road, at the Yellow House pub.

The driver broke a red light, turned left and went through another red light at Bushy Park Road.

The court heard gardai kept the BMW in sight at all times and noticed that it never braked, even as it went over speed bumps, until it came to a halt.

Two men got out at Zion Road, leaving two "distraught" women in the car.

The officers testified that Duffy was wearing a black puffy or bomber jacket, fled from the driver's door, and was the driver. They said another male in a white T-shirt got out of another door.

Garda Hamilton arrested him nearby, and the court heard he was wearing a black bomber or puffer-style jacket.

The gardaí agreed that the car was analysed, but no fingerprints were found. They also observed that no CCTV cameras covered where the car was stopped.

Duffy rejected the accusation and maintained he was a passenger and had taken a lift from Harcourt Street.

"I was never in the driver’s seat," he told the court, adding that he alighted the car from a passenger seat.

The court heard he had three prior convictions recorded in 2011 for unlawful drug possession, having drugs worth more than €13,000 and possessing them for sale or supply, which resulted in a five-year suspended sentence.

Paul Larkin Boyle BL said his client had worked in construction, became a personal trainer, contributed to the economy and was a stepfather to his partner’s child. Pleading for leniency, counsel told the court that Duffy was also a carer for his mother, pro-social and had a significant support network.

Judge Hughes said Duffy’s driving was dangerous to the public, his passengers and himself.

He imposed a four-month sentence but suspended the final month. Legal aid was granted.

The judge ordered that if he gets released pending an appeal, he must not drive without first going to his local garda station to inform them and show his licence.