Man with 70 previous convictions jailed for high-speed chase through residential area

By Eimear Dodd

A man who drove through two green areas where children were playing in an attempt to evade gardai also drove the wrong way down a motorway, a court has heard.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that CJ Losty (then 18) led gardai on a high-speed chase through the Blanchardstown and Mulhuddart areas in a stolen car, driving on the wrong side of the road, through roundabouts, over footpaths and through three green areas, two of which children were playing on.

At one point, the car was travelling at speeds in excess of 160km/hr, the court heard. Losty also drove onto the M3 motorway, driving in the wrong direction for a stretch before turning around.

Losty (22) pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment and three counts of dangerous driving on August 12, 2023.

He also pleaded guilty to having no insurance and driving a vehicle without the consent of the owner.

He has 70 previous convictions, including 19 for dangerous driving. He was also disqualified from driving for five years at the time, the court heard.

Losty of Parlickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 was handed a global sentence of three years, with the final 12 months suspended for two years on strict conditions.

Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain said “the potential for harm was enormous”, noting that gardai, children and members of the public were endangered by Losty’s actions.

She said he “had no regard for the safety of other road users”. The judge noted that Losty has an “appalling” number of previous convictions.

She said she also considered his guilty pleas, difficult background and vulnerabilities when structuring the sentence, which was backdated to November 8 last. Losty was also handed a six-year driving disqualification.

After entering the bond, Losty thanked the judge and said he was “very grateful”.

Judge Ni Chulachain said the court did not want to see him back in future and encouraged him to engage with the Probation Service upon his release from custody.

Losty replied this was “the only chance I’ll get, I want to take it”.

An investigating garda previously told Eimear Delargy BL, prosecuting, that the car was stolen from outside the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on August 10, 2023.

Two days later, gardai spotted the car pulling out of an estate. Losty was driving, and a window was smashed, the court was told. Another unidentified person was sitting on the passenger side.

Gardai shouted at Losty to stop, but he drove at the garda vehicle, then turned right. They followed him, activating their blue lights, but Losty did not stop when they indicated that he should.

He accelerated at high speed and drove on the wrong side of the road, forcing oncoming traffic to drive into a ditch.

Losty continued to drive at high speed, drove the wrong way around a roundabout and overtook other vehicles.

In the vicinity of Ladystown Road, he drove through a roundabout, then into a gap which led to an estate’s green area. Children playing there had to jump out of the way to avoid being knocked over.

Gardai did not follow the car across the green area, instead going to the entrance of the estate where they had to take evasive action due to the speed Losty was driving at.

The pursuit continued, with Losty driving at high speed in a bus lane, through red lights, overtaking vehicles and on the wrong side of the road at speeds in excess of 160km/hr.

Other vehicles had to mount the footpath at one point to avoid a collision, and later, he almost collided with a cyclist while making a turn.

Losty crossed another green, then continued at high speed mounting a footpath in the Sheepfield Avenue area, before continuing onto a third green.

Gardai didn’t follow him across this green, as children were playing there.

Losty drove head-on at gardai in the Sheepfield Park area, with the patrol car having to mount the footpath to avoid a collision.

He then drove down the slip road of the M3 and onto the motorway, where he drove between two vehicles, causing them to brake suddenly.

He left the motorway at the Dunboyne exit, then continued to the M3 parkway before driving back onto the motorway near the Johnstown, Co. Meath exit.

He drove inbound on the outbound side, then did a handbrake turn and drove outbound on the outbound side.  He stopped on the hard shoulder and was arrested at the scene.

The investigating garda agreed with Nicola Cox BL, defending, that her client is from a difficult  background and his plea was of value to the prosecution.

Ms Cox said her client fully acknowledges the gravity and extreme seriousness of his behaviour, and accepts others were put in danger.

She said her instructions were to express Losty’s deep remorse and shame for the fear caused to others.

A psychological report stated Losty has low cognitive functioning and literacy difficulties.

He was involved in a serious road traffic accident when he was 18 and spent six days in a coma. He now has permanent sight loss in one eye and suffered a neurological injury.

Ms Cox submitted that her client is “a vulnerable man, susceptible to impulsive behaviour and manipulation” who also has a history of oppositional defiance disorder, self harm and suicidal ideation.

Losty is doing well in custody and is on an enhanced regime. Ms Cox noted her client is assessed at high risk of re-offending, but told the court he does have protective factors and the Probation Service is willing to work with him post-release.