By Claire Henry
A convicted sex offender assaulted a garda after stealing a delivery driver’s car and leading gardai on a high speed chase, a court has heard.
At around 9pm on December 18, 2021 a pizza delivery man had stopped his Mini Cooper on the South Circular road to make a delivery.
The driver dropped his keys and three men grabbed the keys and drove off in his car.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that one of these men was Jason Paget (35) of John Field rd., Dublin 8, who has previous convictions for aggravated burglary and aggravated sexual assault.
Another one of the men was Charles Darcy (34) of John’s Lane West, Dublin 8, who is due for sentence next month after he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm which was later found in the car when Paget crashed the car at Longs Place, Dublin 8.
The delivery driver alerted the gardaí immediately, and the car registration was broadcast over the garda radio.
Detective Garda Eoin Hickey told John Berry BL, prosecuting, that three garda cars had their blue lights and sirens activated while pursuing the stolen car driven by Paget.
Paget drove the car on the wrong side of the road, the wrong way around a roundabout, driving on two wheels going around corners and forcing other drivers to take evasive action to avoid crashing.
The court heard that at Long’s Place the car crashed into a parked car with such force that the parked car collided with another car.
The car chase lasted approximately ten minutes, moving from Dublin 12 to the Dublin 8 area.
The three occupants of the car fled the scene, and gardaí, wearing stab vets, chased after them on foot.
Det Gda Hickey told the court that Paget would not submit to the arrest and engaged in a struggle with a Garda Dara Higgins.
During the arrest, Paget was sprayed with pepper spray and struck with a garda baton.
He fell to the ground dragging Garda Higgins with him, was arrested and brought to Crumlin Garda Station, where a medic assessed him.
The court heard that Gda Higgins was brought to St James Hospital, where he was found to have a fractured hand.
Paget was also brought to St James Hospital for further medical assessment.
Gda Higgins approached the bedside of Paget, and Paget noticed the injury to the garda’s hand.
He then shouted, “I hope it is fucking broken, I hope it’s fucking sore, I hope it’s fucking mangled” he then shouted at a nurse to “Get this cunt away from my bed”.
Paget has 15 previous convictions, including aggravated burglary and aggravated sexual assault, for which he served a ten-year sentence as well as possession of drugs, theft, fraud, obstruction and failing to appear.
Paget was also on bail at the time of this offence for the robbery of the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh, Dublin 8.
Paget pleaded guilty to taking possession of a vehicle without the consent of the owner, assaulting Garda Dara Higgins causing him harm and dangerous driving.
Det Hickey agreed with Karl Monaghan BL, defending, that Paget only became verbally abusive when Garda Higgins approached his bedside.
He also agreed that Paget was sixteen when he committed the aggravated burglary and sexual assault offence, for which he served a ten-year sentence.
The court heard that Paget is a father of two and his children live in the UK.
He began travelling from the UK to Ireland to engage with the Irish probation services.
While doing this, he found himself drifting, engaging with old associates, and using crack cocaine and tablets.
He began to commit crimes such as the robbery of the Marble Arch pub to pay for his drug habit.
Paget is now separated from his partner and only has access to his children via video calls.
He is dealing with his drug addictions and wishes to engage in drug analysis.
Character references have been handed into the court on behalf of Paget.
Keith Spencer, BL, defending Charles Darcy, made an application on behalf of his client to restrict the naming of his client as a co-accused in the case.
Judge Orla Crowe refused the application noting the requirement for justice to be administered in public.
“There is nothing open to me that shows that I have been persuaded that reporting restrictions should be put in place for Charles Darcy,” she said.
Judge Crowe adjourned the matter for sentencing next week and remanded Paget in custody.