Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Jail for man who brought gardaí on high speed cross-city chase

A garda suffered severe eye and facial injuries in the incident.

A MAN WHO brought gardaí on a high speed cross-city chase before causing the garda car to crash into a wall has been jailed for five years.

Garda Thomas Bialkowski suffered severe eye and facial injuries after the butt of his firearm hit him in the face when his garda car crashed in Tallaght in the early hours of 29 December, 2018.

Thomas Stokes (30), the driver of the car, was caught a short time later after trying to flee the scene. He has 171 previous convictions, including 88 for road traffic offences.

Stokes, with an address at Anne Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of endangerment, one count of assaulting Garda Bialkowski and one count of dangerous driving at Promenade Road, Dublin Port and Cookstown Way, Tallaght.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage in relation to a separate incident at Limekiln Green, Crumlin six years ago, on 10 October, 2014.

Passing sentence today, Judge Karen O’Connor said that while a consecutive sentence is not mandatory, her view was that it was appropriate in this case.

Judge O’Connor sentenced Stokes to four-and-a-half years imprisonment for the offence of endangerment. She also sentenced him to two-and-a-half years imprisonment for the earlier offence of criminal damage.

She ordered that the sentences run consecutive to each other for an effective term of imprisonment of seven years. She then suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions.

At an earlier sentencing hearing, Sergeant Wes Kenny told the court that members of the garda armed support unit approached a car parked at Dublin Port containing Stokes and an unknown man.

When Stokes saw the gardaí approaching, he tried to start the car. One garda stuck his hand in the window to try and stop Stokes from driving off and was dragged along for a short time before letting go.

A high speed pursuit ensued, with Stokes making for the Port Tunnel. Due to safety protocol, gardaí were unable to pursue the car in the tunnel, but instead followed at a safe distance, the court heard.

Once on the M50, the pursuit started again, with Stokes reaching speeds of up to 180km/h, Sergeant Kenny said. The car also drove in the hard shoulder at times and “swerved aggressively” across all lanes of the motorway. At times, gardaí could see items being discarded from the car window.

The pursuit came to a head at Cookstown Way, Tallaght, when Stokes braked hard and crashed, causing the garda car to swerve and crash into a wall.

The garda car airbag caused Garda Bialkowski’s firearm butt to hit him in the mouth, causing injuries to his teeth. His eye was also injured in the crash and he suffered soft tissue damage to his arm and shoulder, the court heard.

Stokes was arrested nearby. He has been in custody ever since, save for a short period of compassionate bail in March this year.

View 45 comments
Close
45 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid Lucey
    Favourite Diarmuid Lucey
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 11:56 AM

    What’s 20% of 30m for a 1st time buyer?

    138
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Owen Slattery
    Favourite Owen Slattery
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 12:32 PM

    I’d love to buy this hotel, but the rising cost of renting means I can’t afford the 6m deposit.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Supernova
    Favourite Supernova
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 11:52 AM

    This will probably be bought by the Chinese billionaires who now own the Kingsley hotel and Fota Island Resort.

    135
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sticky Micky
    Favourite Sticky Micky
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 1:26 PM

    If it so great why they selling it?

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maire Ui Riain
    Favourite Maire Ui Riain
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 2:24 PM

    Nobs

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seb Bowyer
    Favourite Seb Bowyer
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 3:01 PM

    buying and selling – at a profit – is the game….

    1
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sticky Micky
    Favourite Sticky Micky
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 3:13 PM

    Ha?

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Very fond of
    Favourite Very fond of
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 11:25 AM

    The River Lee Hotel is the best hotel in Cork city

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mansfield
    Favourite Chris Mansfield
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 11:35 AM

    I would have said The Hayfield Manor, although I haven’t been in the Kingsley since it reopened. The Maryborough isn’t bad either.

    But it’s all horses for courses. If I was traveling for work, The Clarion is exactly the kind of hotel I’d want to be put up in. All the facilities you could want, without too much fuss about the place. On the other hand, it’s not where I’d go for a romantic break; then that extra notch in service you get from somewhere like The Hayfield Manor is welcome.

    143
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rod_TenⒸ
    Favourite Rod_TenⒸ
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 12:51 PM

    Cork, what a dump

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sticky Micky
    Favourite Sticky Micky
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 1:26 PM

    Damn right

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Goldberg
    Favourite Goldberg
    Report
    Jul 29th 2015, 1:31 PM

    Twinned with the MGM Grand

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kizzi Yeates
    Favourite Kizzi Yeates
    Report
    Jul 30th 2015, 4:46 AM

    Bad food and the place stinks lol

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds