“It was a matter of sheer luck you didn’t kill either yourself or worse still somebody else,” Judge Timothy Petts said at Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday.
Darragh O’Grady, 32, was sentenced to three years in prison after driving a stolen minibus the wrong way down the A55, an incident that left a cyclist with serious injuries. The defendant, who has no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to multiple offences including causing serious injury by dangerous driving, theft, and fraud.
The court heard a sequence of events beginning on Monday, August 24, when police received multiple 999 calls regarding O’Grady’s driving, Dublin Live reported. After arriving via ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, O’Grady allegedly stole bank cards and a mobile phone from a passenger, according to the Irish Mirror.
CCTV footage showed O’Grady leaving the Holyhead terminal shortly after 6:15 p.m. and entering the town centre. By approximately 7:00 p.m., he had targeted a minibus belonging to Zoes Taxis by seizing keys from another company vehicle, Dublin Live reported.
Injuries to Richard Roberts
Shortly after 7:30 p.m., the stolen minibus struck cyclist Richard Roberts from behind with its wing mirror on the A5. The impact threw Roberts from his bicycle and caused him to lose consciousness momentarily, the Irish Mirror reported.
Medical staff at Royal Stoke University Hospital treated Roberts for several injuries, including two fractured ribs, a lacerated liver, and bruising to his skull. He also sustained grazing to his shoulder, back, and knees, Dublin Live reported.
“Although I made a good recovery, I remained upset,” Roberts stated in a victim impact statement, noting that he continues to use painkillers and suffers from sleep issues. His bicycle, purchased only two months prior, was written off in the collision, Dublin Live reported.
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A second cyclist narrowly avoided a collision because the wing mirror had been folded inwards during the initial strike with Mr. Roberts, preventing it from “skimming” the second rider at speed.
Dangerous driving on the A55
O’Grady then entered the westbound carriageway of the A55 while traveling eastbound. Dashcam and mobile phone footage captured him swerving between lanes with the minibus boot still open, Dublin Live reported.
During this period of driving, O’Grady made eye contact with a motorist filming him and gave a “thumbs up” sign, the Irish Mirror reported.
The minibus collided with several vehicles, including a VW Golf and a mobility vehicle operated by Heather Jones. Ms. Jones told the court she felt she “might die” when struck.
| Charge Category | Specific Offence |
|---|---|
| Driving Offences | Causing serious injury by dangerous driving; driving without licence or insurance |
| Theft & Fraud | Aggravated vehicle taking; theft from a person; fraud by false representation |
| Police Obstruction | Failing to provide a specimen for analysis |
O'Grady receives a three-year prison sentence
Police eventually stopped O’Grady using a stinger device after he refused to pull over. Officers noted he appeared to be under the influence, though he refused to provide a sample for testing and became confrontational, Dublin Live reported.
Defence counsel Richard Edwards stated that O’Grady had entered an early guilty plea, expressed remorse, and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The owner of the taxi firm estimated losses of approximately £7,000 due to the vehicle being unable to operate, the Irish Mirror reported.
Judge Petts handed down a three-year prison sentence, with part of the term to be served on licence. O’Grady was also disqualified from driving for five and a half years and must pass an extended test before driving in the UK again, Dublin Live reported.
What happened to the stolen minibus and the driver
What happened to the stolen minibus?
The minibus, owned by Zoes Taxis, sustained significant damage and was unable to be operated, resulting in estimated losses of £7,000 for the business.
What was the driver’s status regarding a driving licence?
During a police interview, O’Grady claimed he held a licence in Ireland, though it was not a full licence.
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