Man who led gardaí on 22km chase at speeds of 160km/h is jailed

A man who led gardaí on a 22km chase across Donegal reaching speeds of up to 160km/h has been jailed for four months.

Ryan McVeigh appeared at Letterkenny District Court on Wednesday charged with a series of driving offences.

The 20-year-old was charged with 14 counts of dangerous driving at various locations.

Garda Inspector Michael Harrison told the court McVeigh was with a group of men who were performing manoeuvres in cars.

When approached by gardaí, the men fled in three cars. They were pursued by gardaí.

McVeigh, from Doaghbeg, Portsalon reached speeds of up to 160km/h in his Lexus and travelled for 22km through 16 townlands before being stopped and arrested.

Solicitor Frank Dorrian told Letterkenny District Court his client had "an unhealthy interest in cars".

Mr Dorrian said his client had no previous convictions and was a hard-working young man who had been working in Australia laying pipes and was keen to return there.

Judge Paul Kelly sentenced McVeigh to four months in jail on four charges of dangerous driving on June 18th this year at various locations in Carrigart with all jail terms to run concurrently.

However, he suspended the final two months of each sentence and also disqualified McVeigh from driving for five years.

He ordered him to also complete the Pro-Social Driving course and to pay a contribution of €250 to the cost of the course.

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