Bail for man charged with dangerous driving in Offaly after he 'rammed' garda car

Accused of offences in Geashill, Killeigh and Clonaslee as court hears helicopter used in pursuit and shotgun found in boot

Published 28th Aug 2026, 14:30 BST Man granted bail at Tullamore District Court | Tribune Pictures Accused of offences in Geashill, Killeigh and Clonaslee as court hears helicopter used in pursuit and shotgun found in boot Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.

A MAN charged with dangerous driving and a drugs offence after what gardai said was a pursuit in Offaly and Laois has been granted bail.

Adam Strong (32) of Kilcavan, Geashill , Laois appeared in custody before Judge Michael Connellan at Tullamore District Court yesterday (August 27).

Mr Strong had been remanded in custody with consent to bail the previous Friday (August 21) after being charged with four counts of dangerous driving and one count of possession of drugs.

He is accused of dangerous driving on the L6118 at Derryguile, on the L1020 at Ballydownan, Geashill, at The Green, Clonaslee and on the N80 at Killeigh.

He is further accused of possessing drugs at Derryguile. All the charges relate to alleged offences committed on August 21 last.

On Thursday Judge Connellan was told by Mr Strong's solicitor, Philip Meagher, that cash bail and a surety were in place.

Mr Meagher said €4,500 was the cash element of the bond and there was also a credit union book with a balance of just over €2,500 in an account and Mr Strong knew how much of that had to be frozen.

Sergeant Richard Thornton, court presenter, indicated he was happy with the bond and surety.

Judge Connellan remarked that Mr Strong looked better than he did when he had appeared in court the previous Friday.

Mr Meagher agreed but Judge Connellan added: “He needs to stay in a better place. That's the most important piece.”

The judge also warned Mr Strong that the cash and surety were just two of many bail conditions he had to comply with until the matters are disposed of.

He must remain of sober habits, obey a curfew, reside at his address, provide a phone number where he can be contacted at all times and sign on at Portlaoise Garda Station three days a week.

“He needs to keep himself squeaky clean and to be in the condition he's in now where he has spent a week in custody and realise what is happening here,” said Judge Connellan.

Mr Meagher said the time in custody had been a “rude awakening” for his client.

The judge noted the presence of the accused's father and brother in court and told Mr Strong: “There's only so much they can do for you, you're an adult.”

On the application of Sergeant Thornton he remanded Mr Strong on bail to appear at Tullamore District Court on September 23 next.

He warned the accused that if there was an alleged breach of the conditions he could find himself back in court and in the case of an actual breach he would be back in custody again and perhaps for a longer period than this occasion.

Last Friday Mr Strong's bail application hearing was told two garda cars were out of use after collisions during an hour long pursuit involving the garda helicopter and a car containing a legally held firearm and ammunition.

Garda Gillian McEllin objected to bail due to the seriousness of the charges. She said the defendant made no reply when charged.

Garda McEllin said at 1.01am a pursuit began in the Portlaoise district when a car failed to stop. She said it travelled on to Offaly and reversed into a driveway near Ballycrystal Stud and “rammed the front passenger wing” of a garda car as it attempted to escape back towards Laois at 1.16am.

Garda McEllin said the pursuit ended when the car “hit a ditch and collided with a patrol car” at Derryguile in Mountmellick causing damage to the front of the patrol car.

She said the pursuit lasted an hour and drugs and a legally held firearm were discovered after the car was stopped.

“It is expected that further charges will be proffered,” she said.

At the bail hearing Mr Strong was represented by Gerry Meagher, solicitor, who said his client had fully cooperated with gardaí after his arrest.

In respect of the shotgun and ammunition allegedly found in the boot of the car, he said his client had a full licence. Garda McEllin confirmed he had cooperated and it was a licenced firearm.

Mr Meagher said his client had shown the gun to a work colleague who was considering buying it.

Garda McEllin said the accused wasn’t very forthcoming about the firearm.

“When we arrived at the scene we asked was there anything else in the car, ‘no guard’,” he replied, she explained. “And then all of a sudden, oh, there is a shotgun in the boot. We were in shock, I was in shock,” said the garda.

Mr Meagher said his client was living at home with his parents and was in full time employment with an electrical company in Mountrath.

He said his client had struggled with addiction and had previously received treatment. He said the man had “limited recollection” of the incidents a night earlier.

He said the man’s father and younger brother were in court to support him and he would be willing to abide by bail conditions.

Garda Sergeant Brendan Kearns asked if the man was undergoing treatment at present.

Mr Meagher said he wasn’t but that he had undergone treatment for addiction previously. “Generally speaking this man is of good character,” he said.

The solicitor said his client was working as a general operative at an electrical company and earned around €650 per week. He said he was hoping to start an electrical apprenticeship.

The defendant’s father took to the stand and said he would be willing to provide cash bail and to notify gardaí if there were breaches of bail.

Sergeant Kearns said the man had addiction issues and had been using a vehicle and also had possession of two legally held firearms.

He said while the defendant has the presumption of innocence, gardaí had concerns for the public safety. He said the man had allegedly tried to evade gardai in a vehicle containing a legally held firearm.

“We find ourselves in a week gone by where a vehicle can be weaponised just as easily as a firearm,” said Sergeant Kearns.

He said two garda vehicles had been disabled and it was only by the grace of god that nothing more serious occurred. He said the court has heard evidence of drug use which doesn’t appear to be under control.

The sergeant said gardai and the public were facing “extremely dangerous circumstances” that night and requested the man be remanded in custody where he said he might have a better opportunity to get treatment.

“I would be seeking a remand in custody for the defendant to be brought to a facility such as he has previously attended,” he said.

In his own evidence Mr Strong said he was really enjoying work and added: “When I got out of treatment I wasn’t able to deal with my emotions,” he said. He said he would abide by bail conditions and attend court.

Asked by Sergeant Kearns where he had been prior to his arrest, Mr Strong said he was in Ballyfin and then in Mountmelick with his cousin. “I can’t remember a whole lot of it,” he said.

He indicated that he would have to deal with his addiction. “I will lose everything if I mess up again,” he said.

In relation to the events in the early hours of Friday he said: “To be totally honest I can’t remember any of last night.”

Sergeant Kearns asked if he had mentioned his addiction issue when making his firearms licensing declaration and the accused replied that he did not think “it says anything about addiction”.

The sergeant also asked Mr Strong about the storage of firearms and the accused said they should be in a safe and the rifle was in his bedroom.

Sergeant Kearns said the firearms had not been correctly held and there was a chambered round in one of them at his address.

“In the clip. There wasn’t one in the barrel of that thing,” Mr Strong replied.

The bail hearing was also told by Garda McEllin that she had some pain in her hand following the incident.