Garda sergeant 'mowed down' by driver during Offaly high speed chase

Five-and-a-half years in jail after Circuit Court hears of dangerous driving in Audi A4 in Tullamore and Ballycumber

Published 9th Jun 2026, 10:00 BST Updated 9th Jun 2026, 16:30 BST High speed car chase recalled at Tullamore Circuit Court | Tribune Pictures Five-and-a-half years in jail after Circuit Court hears of dangerous driving in Audi A4 in Tullamore and Ballycumber 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 who drove his car at a garda sergeant and knocked him down was sentenced to five-and-a-half years for assaulting the detective.

Jeffery Moran (36), College View, Rahan, pleaded guilty to a charge of endangerment arising from the incident in Tullamore on January 23 last year.

He also admitted several other offences, including counts of dangerous driving which resulted from him being pursued by the garda he injured, Detective Sergeant David Scahill.

Tullamore Circuit Court heard how Detective Sergeant Scahill saw Mr Moran look him directly in the eye before the impact on Collins Lane.

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The detective, who was in an unmarked car, had earlier seen Mr Moran and a number of other individuals in a black Audi A4 near Scally's shop on the Arden Road and the Audi took off at speed and was driven dangerously through a red light near the hospital before turning left onto Davitt Street, a narrow road, and on to Puttaghaun, the bypass and back to Collins Lane.

It was lunchtime “on a busy afternoon”, another garda, Sergeant Brian Jennings, told Judge Keenan Johnson, but Detective Sergeant Scahill managed to pull his vehicle across the path of the Audi and then “felt a bump on his vehicle”.

He got out and was then struck by the Audi and knocked to the ground. Civilian witnesses saw the impact and another saw the Audi drive off towards the Clara road and recalled the driver “had his hoodie up”.

The car drove around the wrong side of a roundabout and its occupants had earlier been seen trying to cover their faces.

Another guard, Garda Niall Mullen, drove from Clara to Ballycumber and saw the Audi and recognised Mr Moran.

The car took off at high speed on the wrong side of the road and was recorded on CCTV at Flynn's in the village.

The vehicle was pursued at Leabeg but lost on the approach to Lemonaghan. Eight days later it was found and seized in Mullingar and in it was a key card from Bloomfield House hotel and a receipt from a deli in the Westmeath town.

Mr Moran was arrested and questioned and claimed the information the gardai had was “hearsay” and “allegations”.

“A lot of people talk a lot of sh*** about people, it's not proof of anything,” he told the gardai.

A year later he pleaded guilty to all charges when he appeared in the Circuit Court.

A victim impact statement from Detective Sergeant Scahill was read to the court and in it the guard said Mr Moran had been ruthless in his attempt to evade capture.

“I was an obstacle to be struck and mowed down,” he said, adding that he had been a garda for 23 years and had faced danger on many occasions.

On that day he risked his life to protect others. “That's what gardai do. I will continue to do the same to the best of my ability.”

He added that being in court as a victim was “very interesting” and he was “shocked and horrified” to see the accused and defence counsel “engage in reciprocal fist pumping in open court”.

He was also at a loss of €527 because of damage to shoes, shirt and suit. He sustained soft tissue injuries to the shoulder, arm and leg but they were not long-term.

The court also heard Mr Moran had 37 previous convictions, ranging from public order offences and drug possession to assault, criminal damage, and many motoring offences.

At the time of the offence before the court he was the subject of a live bench warrant, was on bail, and was subject to a suspended sentence.

Mr Moran was remanded in custody in October last year and while in prison he received sentences for other offences.

Defence counsel David Nugent, BL, outlined the accused's personal circumstances, saying he was a father of two who left school in Third Year and worked on building sites, where he mixed with adults and was “led down the path of alcohol and drugs”.

Mr Nugent said the man was doing well in prison, was drug-free and studying Leaving Certificate history, and had completed other courses.

He apologised to Detective Sergeant Scahill and said he was committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol free lifestyle on his release.

“He is the architect of his own demise and he certainly accepts that,” said Mr Nugent.

The maximum prison term which could have been imposed on Mr Moran was 12 years and Judge Johnson set the headline sentence at nine-and-a-half, reducing that to seven after mitigation with 18 months suspended for five years.

He praised Detective Sergeant Scahill and said Mr Moran's driving had been extremely dangerous, using the car as a weapon.

“He took the law into his own hands and attempted to cause serious injury to Garda Scahill,” said the judge.

Mr Moran was also banned from driving for 20 years, received a three-month sentence for one of the other offences, and was ordered not to have any contact with Detective Sergeant Scahill or his family.

The court was further told by Shane Geraghty, BL, prosecuting, that the latest conviction triggered the possible activation of a six-month suspended sentence which had been imposed on Mr Moran for having drugs for sale or supply. That matter will come before the court on Wednesday, June 10.

Related topics: Tullamore Circuit Court Rahan Offaly David Nugent Garda Ballycumber Judge Keenan Johnson 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.