Court hears 'large crowd' gathered after stolen car driven by over the limit motorist with 290 convictions crashed into homes in Limavady
A court was told a "large crowd" gathered after a stolen car crashed into homes in Limavady.
Kevin Gerard Conaghan (52), of Glenview Drive in the town, had 290 previous convictions. He is charged with aggravated taking of an Audi car and dangerous driving on February 15.
He is also charged with causing criminal damage to a wall; causing criminal damage to the front door of a property; causing criminal damage to a van; causing criminal damage to police vehicles; absence of insurance and a driving licence; and failing to provide a sample.
The defendant appeared at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday, via video link from a police station.
A police officer said around 9pm on Sunday, February 15, the PSNI received a report of a vehicle being stolen from outside a business at Catherine Street in Limavady. She said a person had gone to get their "wages", left the keys in the car and when they returned the vehicle was gone.
Police then received a report a "drink driver" had driven into a property in the Roe Mill Gardens area of the town and a member of the public "had to prevent" the driver from leaving.
When police arrived they saw a vehicle had crashed into a wall at houses and a "large crowd had gathered to observe".
The officer said "significant damage was noted to both properties" including to a "living room window and a wall below the window. A PVC door had been damaged at another address" and there was "extensive damage to a wall and gate at another property and the wall in between the two properties was also damaged".
The defendant had appeared intoxicated and gave a roadside breath sample of 52 in breath - the legal limit is 35. He told police he would "take all responsibility" for what happened.
He was arrested and was taken to hospital for medical treatment. Whilst awaiting triage he removed a dressing from his bleeding left hand and proceeded to wipe blood across the seat of the police vehicle.
At the hospital he refused to provide a blood sample for analysis. When put in a cell van he urinated. When interviewed in relation to the incidents of February 15 he "made admissions to all the offences," said the officer.
A defence barrister said taking the car had been "very opportunistic" with "absolutely no level whatsoever of pre-meditation" when the defendant spotted an "unattended vehicle in the street with the engine running".
The lawyer said it was a "completely appalling set of offending" and the driving had been "terrible". The lawyer confirmed the defendant had made admissions to all offences.
He said the defendant had been "bleeding profusely" and "simply couldn't help the blood from getting onto the police vehicle".
The lawyer said the urination incident had been due to "desperation". He said the defendant had a "long-standing alcohol addiction" but had been off drink "for quite some time".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant had an "atrocious" record.
He said the defendant had been under the influence of alcohol and had caused extensive damage and it was fortunate nobody else, including children, was injured.
Conaghan was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to Limavady Magistrates Court, sitting in Coleraine, on March 11.