High-speed biker is jailed after nearly killing student

A motorcyclist, who fled from Gardaí through residential areas at high speed, was jailed for 13 months at Galway District Court.

In imposing the lengthy term, Judge Mary Fahy was taking into account that the defendant was already disqualified, and had chosen to ignore the court order.

“If he had killed someone that day, it would be the courts and the Gardai that would be blamed, as usual,” she observed.

Marcin Lewandowski (28), with an address at McGrill’s Apartments, Moyvilla, Oranmore, pleaded guilty to numerous counts of dangerous driving on the evening of March 9 last.

Garda Conor Barrett told the court that he was on patrol on the Coast Road in Oranmore when a motorcyclist passed the car out.

“We followed, and indicated for the driver to stop, but he failed to do so,” he said.

The court heard that Lewandowski proceeded at speed onto the Dublin Road, along Ballybane Road where he drove on the wrong side of the road and narrowly avoided a fatality.

“It was a Sunday evening, students were coming back for college, and a young female was crossing the road – he nearly collided with her,” the Garda added.

“On the Tuam Road he went through a red light at speed, on the N17 he again failed to stop, and turned off Ballintemple side road, driving down it at very high speed. There were numerous people out walking.”

When Lewandowski’s bike eventually came to a halt he was arrested and charged with dangerous driving.

The court heard that the defendant had 16 previous convictions for the same offence, arising from one incident, which had landed him with a lengthy disqualification.

His solicitor, Tomás McHale, said that his client was a mechanic, and had been in Ireland for five years. He said that the disqualification “caused him to take the action.”

He acknowledged that his client’s behaviour was entirely inappropriate, and that he had put both himself and innocent people in danger.

There was little that he could say, however, that would change Judge Fahy’s view of him.

“His record is so appalling, I’m flabbergasted,” she said.

“This disqualification order had no effect on him whatsoever, it just happened that he was detected on that day.

“He was working as a mechanic, while disqualified for 15 years – the only way he could have been doing that was by disregarding the order. He didn’t appeal the order, he just ignored it and carried on regardless.”

For the matter at Ballybane Road, which Garda Barrett said was the most serious incident, she imposed a five month sentence. He was further sentenced to five months for driving while disqualified, and three months for having no insurance.

Recognisances were fixed, in the event of an appeal, on his own surety of €800, and an independent surety of €800. The condition of which is that he does not drive any MPV pending completion of the case.