MX5Ireland

On Tuesday evening I had collected my youngest son from the Inlaws and was driving him home for bed. I had stopped at the bottom of the hill at the Dundrum roundabout where it joins the M50. From behind me I hear that sound when a car is sliding on gravel. I look in the rear view mirror and see a small car sliding down the hill quite fast, turning slightly as it does so. Uh Oh. Smack and they hit me so hard they push me into the middle of the roundabout almost sideways.
As I check on my son I look up and the driver looks up at me, looks at his mates and starts to pull off. I look at my son again, he has a great big smile and doesn't seem upset and I figure, screw this, I am not letting them away with this so I'm off. I dial 999 and start relaying my details and the other car details over the phone as we climb the hill onto the M50.
So now it's a 99 1.1 litre fiesta versus a 99 2.0 litre turbo saab onto the M50. To sumarise the chase that ensued the other driver came off at the exit for my house and then decided to drive down the road past boharnabreena. I have driven this road many many many times in my 5 as it is 2 minutes from my house and is a great set of twisties so he hasn't got a chance of getting away from me. All the while I am relaying instructions to the Gardai and they get the air unit over me, 2 cars coming down from Blessington , another 2-3 from Tallaght. As we approach the Blesssington road the driver turns back towards Tallaght as the Garda pursuit car comes up behind me. I indicate the direction of the other vehicle and then the Garda on the phone says that they have sufficient vehicles involved and advises me to break away. The adrenalin running through my veins has me singing "Bad Boys, Bad Boys, whatcha ya gonna do? Whatcha gona do when they come for you???"

All in all it was about 40 minutes of chase. When I spoke to the Garda again they caught them but the driver had jumped into the back seat and it trying the old "I wasn't driving occifer hic" excuse. Not their car, no insurance and all 4 lads were drunk. At one stage I thought they might jump out of the car and run, If they had done I think I might have run one or more of them over intentionally.

I want to ask the Garda for the footage from the helicopter, think they would give it to me?

Oh, another thing, when I was giving my statement they cautioned me and explained my rights. I joked that I thought he was going to do me for speeding but he never denied it. Is this the norm now. I don't remember being cautioned before when giving witness statements.

My god mate that whole story sounds mad. I would like to say that i would have run the bastards over but in all fairness i probably wouldn't have cause deep down you know that you would be in deep sh*t if you had.
It would be great to get the footage from the copter.
Hows the car is there much damage? Hope you and your soon are alright.
Ash

We are both ok. The rear bumper is badly scratched and buckled as well as scrape damage to the rear drivers panel. About €1k I reckon because Saab labour is €165 per hour, plus €300 for the bumper and €400 for the panel. I have to go to the MIBI to calim and they traditionally return about 1 third of costs. Since the accident my right arm has been fairly numb so I must presume I bashed it against the door or window in the accident. I will make time to go see a doctor during the week to check.

Uh ho, I'd say the caution was for the speeding but also for using your mobile while driving.
Don't be surprised if the so-called 'good guys' not only string those muppets up, but also go after yourself while their at it. End of the day they're looking for numbers/stats since it's near the end of summer.
Congrats though.....I myself would have probably blown them off the road in the twisty part of the chase.

They can't get me for the phone because it's voice operated, no dialing or contact required at all.

Speeding wise I was doing 60- 70 while the copter was over head and without gatso or similar device they can't really prove it.

But saying that, that's exactly what I was afraid of.

I was tempted to tap them on a curve and watch them wipe out but with my son in the car, if it went wrong I could never have forgiven myself.

Glad you are OK, anyway. Could have been messy, I always worry about asserting my rights over numerous skangers in case I get caught in traffic with them + weapons. G'luck with the law, I hope they do the right thing.

S.

Scary stuff, but very well done.

I'm not very au fait with the legal side of things but I had a thought.
Is it possible that you were read your rights so that any statement you made could be used in court against the scum you were chasing.
If you hadn't been advised of your rights perhaps a defence barrister would use it against the Garda you spoke to, and your evidence would then have to be withdrawn.

Does that make any sense?