Motorcycle rider's high speed chase at 90mph through Lurgan, Craigavon and Portadown left motorists swerving to avoid a crash, court hears

A 30-year-old man appeared in the dock at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday to face a number of charges.

-

-

Tiarnan Scullion, with an address at Molesworth Street, Cookstown, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, no insurance, no vehicle test certificate and no driving licence.

Just after midnight on July 25 this year a white Supermoto motorcycle alongside two unidentified motorcycles failed to stop for police on the Plantation Road, Lurgan.

A high-speed pursuit ensued through Lurgan, Craigavon and Portadown. During this the motorcycle was driven at more than 90mph in both 60mph and 30mph zones.

Police pursuing the motorcycle witnessed the driver perform "numerous dangerous manoeuvres” including overtaking on the wrong side of the road and the blind bend on the Moyallen Road, Portadown.

"As a result of that manoeuvre he came in direct contravention with an oncoming motorist. Police observed that motorist coming to an emergency stop to avoid a collision,” a Prosecutor revealed.

Despite a stinger being deployed which deflated the front tyre, the rider continued to drive dangerously.

He breached traffic lights at Bridge Street, High Street junction in Portadown with police observing several drivers taking evasive action to prevent a collision. He mounted footpaths and travelled through alleyways in Corcrain Drive to avoid police.

After 17 minutes and having covered 14 miles police deemed the pursuit “no longer safe” at 12.20am. Later the motorcycle was located at Westland Road, Portadown.

The rider was spotted making off towards the Loughgall Road by a member of the public who notified police.

The motorcycle was seized and there was a media and social media appeal due to the "gravity” of the incident. Scullion contacted police identifying himself as the rider and he wanted the motorcycle back.

During interview Scullion said: “I knew you were going to be looking for me and I didn’t want any trouble and I knew you had seized my bike.”

Asked why he didn’t stop for police, he said: “I’m not really sure. My adrenaline was going. I just got scared and I just kept going.”

Scullion’s barrister Mr Joel Lindsay said his client is "exceptionally lucky” no one was injured or died.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said this case could have been in the Crown Court “given the amount of danger he put members of the public and police in”.

Mr Lindsay said his client is due to become a father for the first time in December. “He comes from an exceptionally traumatic childhood,” he said, adding this led to time in youth detention and substance abuse.

He said his client had self-harmed and made attempts to end his life resulting in some serious injuries and he is lucky to be alive.

The barrister said his client is seeing his GP and Extern to get help. He urged the District Judge to defer sentencing to see if he could “turn his life around”.

District Judge Ranaghan deferred sentencing until February 23 with strict conditions which if breached could lead to a nine months jail term.

"You are about to become a father, you need to wise up,” he said.