Longford man slashed tyres of unmarked Garda car and also drove 'dangerously defective' vehicle

A young man accused of almost 30 motoring offences, who ignored a number of fixed charge penalty notices (FCPNs), will be assessed to see if he is a suitable candidate for 240 hours of community service.

Tommy Lee Doyle (21) who had charge sheet addresses of Ferefad, Ardagh Road and also 9 Trumra Road, Granard had a number of charges withdrawn by the State to conclude his prosecution in respect of a series of motoring offences committed between June of 2023 and on January of 2025.

Mr Doyle also pleaded guilty before Judge Bernadette Owens at Longford District Court to slashing the tyres of a Garda vehicle in November 2004 and a public order matter in October of 2024.
The defendant was prosecuted in respect of a number of dangerous driving incidents, driving without the correct documentation, driving on a learner permit without an accompanying driver and without displaying L plates.

Garda Shane O'Connor outlined the charges against the defendant relating to the most recent offence on January 19, 2025. Garda O'Connor told Judge Bernadette Owens the DPP had consented to summary disposal of the matter.
The witness explained the charges arose when Mr Doyle was driving what was later proven to be a dangerous defective vehicle in a dangerous manner.

The officer said that at 17:25pm he was on patrol at Richmond Street, Longford when he observed a car taking off at speed.
Garda O'Connor followed the vehicle as it passed through a number of townlands. The garda said although the speed limit was 80kph for most of the journey, going to 100kph on one road, the driver exceeded that speed.
At one point the car was forced to slow down on a narrow road by a vehicle in front. The driving of Mr Doyle forced the other vehicle to pull off the road to allow him past. When he passed he proceeded to travel at speed.

Garda O'Connor said the defendant was going at such a pace he was unable to maintain his speed, mainly because of the nature of the road and the weather. He described conditions as “quite wet” with “surface water posing a danger”.
Mr Doyle finally stopped at Clontuskert at which point he was arrested and his car was seized. A report on the vehicle carried out by a Garda inspector, complete with 30 photographs, was handed in to the court.

The report described the car as “dangerously defective” and it prohibited the use of the vehicle until the defects were remedied.
Those shortcomings included a damaged air bag, two of the tyres had low thread depth, there was a cut to one tyre by the exhaust pipe, a 'space saver' was in place allowing a wheel to have only four studs instead of five.

The report also identified that the car had three different sized wheels. Details of the other charges the defendant was facing were then outlined by court presenter, Inspector David Jordan.
On Wednesday March 6, 2024 at 11:24pm the defendant was observed driving on the Dublin Road, Longford. He was unaccompanied, even though he was on a learner permit. A FCPN was issued, but it was not paid.
Similar offences were recorded for Wednesday, May 29 at 3:20pm, and Friday, June 17, 2024 both attracting FCPNs that were not paid.

Inspector Jordan gave details of an incident on Monday, July 20, 2023 at 8:00pm when a car driven by Mr Doyle was observed exiting the parking area of an apartment block in Newtownforbes.
The patrol car followed Mr Doyle as he accelerated, with the officers estimating he travelled in excess of 160kph, crossed white lines, causing oncoming vehicles to take evasive action and flash their lights.

When stopped Mr Doyle told officers he tried to evade Gardaí because he was on a learner permit.
Other incidents, on August 14, 2024 at Connaught Road, Ballymahon, on August 15, 2024 at Lisbrack Rd, Longford, and Friday, August 23, 2024 at N4 Aughadegnan were also detailed by Inspector Jordan.
The final matter to be detailed to court occurred on November 8, 2024 at 8:15pm. Officers from the Longford Roscommon Divisional Drug Unit were undertaking a search of a property at Richmond Street, Longford.

One of the vehicles used by the officer was an unmarked patrol car. When the team came out of the house the tyres of the car were slashed.
A review of CCTV allowed the investigators to identify Tommy Lee Doyle.
Mr Doyle made full admissions in interview and said he knew it was a Garda vehicle.
Inspector Jordan told Judge Owens the defendant had no previous convictions before the court sitting.
Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client was born in the UK, but has lived in Ireland since he was two years old.

He is in receipt of a social welfare disability payment, because of an intellectual disability.
Ms Mimnagh told the judge Mr Doyle has got his theory test, has completed full driving training and has embarked on a relationship that has been a “steadying influence” in his life.
“Tommy is anxious to get work himself. He has a family friend who is a painter and decorator and he hopes to get work with him.

“He knows he will be disqualified, although he likes driving he knows he will not be driving for a long time,” Ms Mimnagh said.
The defendant had €200 in court to pay for the criminal damage to the Garda car, which Inspector Jordan indicated should go to the Court Poor Box.

Having noted the facts of the case Judge Owens observed there were two incidents of particularly dangerous driving.
The judge directed that Mr Doyle be assessed by probation services to ascertain if he is a suitable candidate for community service.

Judge Owens indicated she would consider 120 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison for each of the dangerous driving charges.
The judge said she also expects Mr Doyle to have completed a pro social driving course before the matter returns to court on May 13, 2025.

“He still has plenty of work to do,” Judge Owens told Ms Mimnagh, before giving Gardai liberty to re-enter the matter if Mr Doyle came to their attention in the intervening period.

Read next: https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/local-news/1769398/two-longford-neighbours-in-the-midst-of-a-dispute-are-set-to-return-to-court-once-again.html