Garda 'pinned by the leg as stolen pickup rammed patrol car', court told

Trevor Brown (40) is accused of the "opportunistic" taking of the road management vehicle before damaging the garda car in an attempt to evade arrest.

He was refused bail when he appeared in Dublin District Court.

Mr Brown, of Dermot O'Dwyer House, Hardwicke Street, Dublin 1, is charged with unauthorised taking of a vehicle, dangerous driving and criminal damage.

Objecting to bail, Garda Robert Diffley told Judge Bryan Smyth a traffic management vehicle was taken with the keys at Faussagh Avenue in Cabra on May 7.

It had a tracker and two gardaí found it at Dubber Cross, St Margaret's, near the M50.

The patrol car pulled up next to the pickup to deter it from moving off and a garda got out. The driver reversed the pickup and rammed into the passenger side of the garda car before attempting to flee.

The garda's leg was pinned by the vehicle and the driver tried to make good his escape, it was alleged. The pickup got caught in an electricity box containing live wires.

One of the gardaí pulled the accused from the vehicle and he continued to try to evade arrest, it was alleged, becoming aggressive and volatile.

The garda who had been pinned came out to assist his colleague and struck Mr Brown with a baton to subdue him, the court heard.

According to the prosecution, the garda car was damaged in the incident and when he was taken to Finglas garda station, the accused initially refused to provide his details before giving gardaí his name and address.

Both gardaí attended hospital with one officer getting a tetanus shot due to a small cut. Her colleague's leg was swollen and he underwent an X-ray but had no broken bones, the court heard.

Gda Diffley said it was envisaged there would be further more serious charges in the case. The court heard the alleged taking of the pickup was "opportunistic in nature".

Defence solicitor John Quinn applied for bail on Mr Brown's behalf. Judge Smyth said the accused was presumed innocent but felt gardaí had made out a case to refuse bail.

He remanded the accused in custody, for the directions of the DPP.