Young driver ran from Garda patrol - News - Waterford News & Star

The court heard that the young man panicked upon seeing Gardaí as he had

Caroline Spencer A young motorist attempted to evade Gardaí after being pulled over in the middle of the night.

David O’Donoghue (19), of Ballycullane, Wexford, was driving his vehicle in the early hours of February 2, 2026, on the Port Road. He was in the vehicle with two other passengers.

Patrolling Gardaí signalled him to pull the vehicle onto the hard shoulder. O’Donoghue pulled in the vehicle briefly but then drove off again.

Gardaí soon discovered the car abandoned in Gorteen, Ferrybank, and saw the three car occupants running away from the vehicle.

The accused appeared this week at Waterford District Court before Judge John Cheatle.

The court heard that O’Donoghue panicked upon seeing Gardaí as he had "accumulated a number of penalty points".

There was no suggestion from Gardaí that drugs and alcohol played a factor.

Defence solicitor Derrick Connors informed the court that his client felt "genuine regret" over his actions.

Mr. Connors said his client was a young man who relied on his car for getting to work as he lived in a rural part of New Ross.