Drink driver steals garda car in Dublin, drives to Armagh

m.j.w · 11-12-2011 9:58pm #1

Just being nosy to see if anyone heard anything about a chase on the m1 there about an hour ago. Was coming down from newry and just as we were crossing the border 4 Garda cars were chasing some car up the other side going northwards and they all stopped at the border. Was passed then by at least 6 more cop cars going northwards. The road up to joansborough was blocked by a cop car as well (think it was psni) and then there was another 3 Garda cars sitting on one of the bridges before Dundalk.

Checked rte and that but nothing up. Whats the craic with the Garda cars stopping at the border? Are they allowed to go into the north to turn to get onto the otherside of the motorway as there is no way of getting back or are they not allowed in the north at all? Theres no other way of them getting back without driving the wrong way down the motorway

TeddyTedson · 11-12-2011 10:00pm

Sounds a bit like GTA when you go to one of the other islands before you're supposed to.

Snowie · 11-12-2011 10:07pm

TeddyTedson wrote: »

Sounds a bit like GTA when you go to one of the other islands before you're supposed to.

nothin beats trying to out run cops, fib the hummers helicopters while blasting tunes out :cool:

scwazrh · 11-12-2011 10:13pm

So long as " STAG " didn't come in and shut down the city

TeddyTedson · 11-12-2011 10:14pm

Snowie wrote: »

nothin beats trying to out run cops, fib the hummers helicopters while blasting tunes out :cool:

Even though it only a 1 player game it used to be great craic passing the controller around seeing who could last the longest.
GTA was good too.

Gran Hermano · 11-12-2011 10:16pm

Someone was trying to beat the VAT increase

Yes I know it's not in place until 2012.

El Weirdo · 11-12-2011 10:16pm

m.j.w wrote: »

Whats the craic with the Garda cars stopping at the border? Are they allowed to go into the north to turn to get onto the otherside of the motorway as there is no way of getting back or are they not allowed in the north at all? Theres no other way of them getting back without driving the wrong way down the motorway

I'd say they can cross the border to turn at the next junction but I'd guess that they can't have sirens and lights and all that jazz on the go. I presume they'd also have to keep to the speed limit too.

M cebee · 11-12-2011 10:18pm

They chase to the border afaik
they radio ahead to the psni to look after it on other side

m.j.w · 11-12-2011 10:20pm

El Weirdo wrote: »

I'd say they can cross the border to turn at the next junction but I'd guess that they can't have sirens and lights and all that jazz on the go. I presume they'd also have to keep to the speed limit too.

i thought thats what happened aswell but once they got to the border they stopped and pulled into the hard shoulder. maybe they have to wait for premission or something. was like something out of gta alright

cocoshovel · 11-12-2011 10:21pm

I have no idea where any of these places are. I wouldnt worry about it, there are garda chases every day.

m.j.w · 11-12-2011 10:21pm

M cebee wrote: »

They chase to the border afaik
they radio ahead to the psni to look after it on other side

yea that must be what happened when since the psni car was blocking the other road.

skinny90 · 11-12-2011 10:22pm

yes gards can cross the border,i often seen them communicating and helping psni with lots of different issues on the news,i cant remember but things such as drug busts or was it smugling fuel,cant fully remember,a better question would be can they arrest someone accross the border??

whydoibother? · 11-12-2011 10:22pm

I assume they work closely with PSNI swapping info. etc.

El Weirdo · 11-12-2011 10:25pm

m.j.w wrote: »

i thought thats what happened aswell but once they got to the border they stopped and pulled into the hard shoulder. maybe they have to wait for premission or something. was like something out of gta alright

Well, I suppose if northern plod are about to take up the chase, there's no need for the Gardai to carry on the high-speed chase and unnecessarily putting themselves in danger.

m.j.w · 11-12-2011 10:27pm

El Weirdo wrote: »

Well, I suppose if northern plod are about to take up the chase, there's no need for the Gardai to carry on the high-speed chase and unnecessarily putting themselves in danger.

why did they stop though if they have to drive up anyway to the next junction to get turned and get back on the southbound side. the next junction is about a mile over the border.

TeddyTedson · 11-12-2011 10:28pm

Do the Brits and Irish ever cross the border in chases or is that not allowed?

ejmaztec · 11-12-2011 10:29pm

It's a new initiative to prevent shoppers going to the North, and on this occasion it was a failure. The next time they'll use stingers.

El Weirdo · 11-12-2011 10:30pm

m.j.w wrote: »

why did they stop though if they have to drive up anyway to the next junction to get turned and get back on the southbound side. the next junction is about a mile over the border.

Erm... read the post you quoted.

Standard Toaster · 11-12-2011 10:30pm

Sounds like the Bandit & Snowman were once again hired on to run a tractor trailer full of beer over county lines in hot pursuit by a pesky sheriff.

ThePower11 · 11-12-2011 10:31pm

m.j.w wrote: »

why did they stop though if they have to drive up anyway to the next junction to get turned and get back on the southbound side. the next junction is about a mile over the border.

They didn't just stop dead on the motorway thats just asking for a pile up, maybe they let them go because the driver was getting iratic and didn't want to put the public in danger, if you look at Roadwars on Sky you will know it happens all the time.

Mike 1972 · 11-12-2011 10:31pm

There has been talk for a long time about drawing up some sort of agreement (bilateral and/or EU) giving the police forces on either side of the border powers to pursue suspects a certain distance across it but i dunno if it ever came to anything.

Given that on a lot of minor cross border roads the exact position of the border is not clearly marked and not immediately obvious to anyone without pretty good local knowledge I dont see how unintentional incursions are not a pretty common occurance.

There is few roads (most notably the N54/A3) which cross the border multiple times and have "enclaves" within one jurisdiction which are all but inaccessible without passing through the other. Ive always been curious as to how such roads are policed and what is the situation with regard to supply of public utilities and other services to homes and businesses located in such enclaves ?

Not sure if the radios in Gardai/PSNI vehicles are capable of direct intercommunication either or if theyd still have to talk to their respective stations ?

m.j.w · 11-12-2011 10:31pm

El Weirdo wrote: »

Erm... read the post you quoted.

i did read it. why did they stop, why didnt they just slow down and contine up the road at the speed limit.

m.j.w · 11-12-2011 10:33pm

ThePower11 wrote: »

They didn't just stop dead on the motorway thats just asking for a pile up, maybe they let them go because the driver was getting iratic and didn't want to put the public in danger, if you look at Roadwars on Sky you will know it happens all the time.

they all pulled into the hard shoulder and stopped at the boarder

syklops · 11-12-2011 10:34pm

m.j.w wrote: »

why did they stop though if they have to drive up anyway to the next junction to get turned and get back on the southbound side. the next junction is about a mile over the border.

Imagine the war on Joe Duffy if PSNI cars were seen to drive with their lights going at speed on the Republic side of the border.

delta720 · 11-12-2011 10:35pm

m.j.w wrote: »

Checked rte and that but nothing up. Whats the craic with the Garda cars stopping at the border? Are they allowed to go into the north to turn to get onto the otherside of the motorway as there is no way of getting back or are they not allowed in the north at all? Theres no other way of them getting back without driving the wrong way down the motorway

Right at the border there's a break in the barrier separating the two directions of traffic. The PSNI have bollards that can be just driven over to do a U-turn, the guards have a few metal poles that retract into the ground. It's just past the Jonesborough exit heading north cause the top of that exit is in the UK while the dual carriageway continues on for a bit still being in the South. The Guards HAVE to stop at the Border, same as the PSNI should never follow someone across into the South, often the PSNI will be waiting at the Border to continue the chase if it's a serious case.

El Weirdo · 11-12-2011 10:36pm

delta720 wrote: »

Right at the border there's a break in the barrier separating the two directions of traffic. The PSNI have bollards that can be just driven over to do a U-turn, the guards have a few metal poles that retract into the ground. It's just past the Jonesborough exit heading north cause the top of that exit is in the UK while the dual carriageway continues on for a bit still being in the South. The Guards HAVE to stop at the Border, same as the PSNI should never follow someone across into the South, often the PSNI will be waiting at the Border to continue the chase if it's a serious case.

That makes sense to me.

m.j.w · 11-12-2011 10:37pm

delta720 wrote: »

Right at the border there's a break in the barrier separating the two directions of traffic. The PSNI have bollards that can be just driven over to do a U-turn, the guards have a few metal poles that retract into the ground. It's just past the Jonesborough exit heading north cause the top of that exit is in the UK while the dual carriageway continues on for a bit still being in the South. The Guards HAVE to stop at the Border, same as the PSNI should never follow someone across into the South, often the PSNI will be waiting at the Border to continue the chase if it's a serious case.

that explains it then, i was always curious as to who policed that bit of road considering if wither side drove down it they would have had no way of getting back.

280special · 11-12-2011 10:38pm

m.j.w wrote: »

i did read it. why did they stop, why didnt they just slow down and contine up the road at the speed limit.

Did you look to see if there was a nice car shaped hole in the hedge anywhere near them??

Maybe they stopped for a chin-wag about what had happened or what they were to do next...AFAIK they can cross the border to the next turning point, as it is the border twists and turns like a snake around there so how they can definately say they are one side or the other beats me.

Wasnt really a problem for the British Army in the old days they just ploughed on manys the time !

Sierra Oscar · 11-12-2011 10:43pm

Mike 1972 wrote: »

There is few roads (most notably the N54/A3) which cross the border multiple times and have "enclaves" within one jurisdiction which are all but inaccessible without passing through the other. Ive always been curious as to how such roads are policed and what is the situation with regard to supply of public utilities and other services to homes and businesses located in such enclaves ?

The Gardai use unmarked cars when patrolling such areas.

slimjimmc · 11-12-2011 10:43pm

TeddyTedson wrote: »

Do the Brits and Irish ever cross the border in chases or is that not allowed?

AFAIK, it's not allowed. Marked cars from either force are not permitted to cross the border even when in pursuit.
There's a situation near Clones where the road* to Cavan crosses the border several times and the Gardaí can only use it when in an unmarked car. Marked cars must take a longer route which avoids the border entirely.

[Edit]*N54/A3 as previously mention by Mike 1972 [/edit]

skinny90 · 11-12-2011 10:45pm

delta720 wrote: »

The Guards HAVE to stop at the Border, same as the PSNI should never follow someone across into the South, often the PSNI will be waiting at the Border to continue the chase if it's a serious case.

Are you sure,i know they could get into bother with insurance if there was damaged caused and they didnt contact the psni but surely they can keep up if the psni are not their in time ot if they contact them and its autherised???im sure there has to be some sort of set up or conditions gathered as to when they can do so....i am only guessing here

delta720 · 11-12-2011 10:45pm

280special wrote: »

Did you look to see if there was a nice car shaped hole in the hedge anywhere near them??

Maybe they stopped for a chin-wag about what had happened or what they were to do next...AFAIK they can cross the border to the next turning point, as it is the border twists and turns like a snake around there so how they can definately say they are one side or the other beats me.

Wasnt really a problem for the British Army in the old days they just ploughed on manys the time !

Go onto google street view, you can see the break in the barrier just before the 'entering miles per hour' sign, and just past it the PSNI have bollards and cones.

skinny90 wrote:

Are you sure,i know they could get into bother with insurance if there was damaged caused and they didnt contact the psni but surely they can keep up if the psni are not their in time ot if they contact them and its autherised???im sure there has to be some sort of set up or conditions gathered as to when they can do so....i am only guessing here

Nah they can't follow across, that's why everyone always makes for the border, it's like the Wild West up here man!!

mono_mac · 11-12-2011 11:01pm

delta720 wrote: »

280special wrote: »

Did you look to see if there was a nice car shaped hole in the hedge anywhere near them??

Maybe they stopped for a chin-wag about what had happened or what they were to do next...AFAIK they can cross the border to the next turning point, as it is the border twists and turns like a snake around there so how they can definately say they are one side or the other beats me.

Wasnt really a problem for the British Army in the old days they just ploughed on manys the time !

Go onto google street view, you can see the break in the barrier just before the 'entering miles per hour' sign, and just past it the PSNI have bollards and cones.

skinny90 wrote:

Are you sure,i know they could get into bother with insurance if there was damaged caused and they didnt contact the psni but surely they can keep up if the psni are not their in time ot if they contact them and its autherised???im sure there has to be some sort of set up or conditions gathered as to when they can do so....i am only guessing here

Nah they can't follow across, that's why everyone always makes for the border, it's like the Wild West up here man!!

stolen squad car been chased . Now in north !!

Solnskaya · 11-12-2011 11:01pm

El Weirdo wrote: »

Well, I suppose if northern plod are about to take up the chase, there's no need for hope for the Gardai to carry on the high-speed chase and unnecessarily putting themselves in danger.and the PSNI can take over the craic of driving at high speed with a free pass that alleviates the boredom of a long, dull shift.

FYP:D No wonder they went all out to get that nicked cop car back, the feckin things are scarce enough as it is. That one must have had low mileage.

Mike 1972 · 11-12-2011 11:02pm

Come to think of it I remember reading years ago about an incident (late 1990's) on the N1/A1 where the driver of an (Irish) army patrol vehicle suddenly realised he was approaching the border and made an over-hasty attempt at a U turn in heavy traffic (at the time it was a two lane single carriageway road and the main Belfast/Dublin route) only for a vehicle to plough right into him.

Nobody was seriously hurt but there was a lot of damage to both vehicles and as the impact had occurred exactly on the border there was some confusion as to whether Dundalk district court or its counterpart in Newry had jurisdiction to hear the resulting civil case.

Never heard what the eventual outcome was.

ADDS: Technically wouldnt a PSNI officer entering (inadvertently or otherwise) the Republic's territory be liable for arrest for carrying unlicensed firearms ? And would an unmarked car have to observe the speed limit on crossing the border ?

m.j.w · 11-12-2011 11:11pm

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Come to think of it I remember reading years ago about an incident (late 1990's) on the N1/A1 where the driver of an (Irish) army patrol vehicle suddenly realised he was approaching the border and made an over-hasty attempt at a U turn in heavy traffic (at the time it was a two lane single carriageway road and the main Belfast/Dublin route) only for a vehicle to plough right into him.

Nobody was seriously hurt but there was a lot of damage to both vehicles and as the impact had occurred exactly on the border there was some confusion as to whether Dundalk district court or its counterpart in Newry had jurisdiction to hear the resulting civil case.

Never heard what the eventual outcome was.

ADDS: Technically wouldnt a PSNI officer entering (inadvertently or otherwise) the Republic's territory be liable for arrest for carrying unlicensed firearms ?

thats what i thought, there is no way they could have a firearm. just seen on facebook the cop car was stolen in dublin

V_Moth · 11-12-2011 11:23pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOEwYxv5UbM

ThePower11 · 11-12-2011 11:58pm

It was RTE news there now, a man was arrested in Lusk Co.Dublin for drink driving, he was put in the Garda car but managed to jump into the drivers seat and drive it all the way to the North!

TeddyTedson · 12-12-2011 12:01am

ThePower11 wrote: »

It was RTE news there now, a man was arrested in Lusk Co.Dublin for drink driving, he was put in the Garda car but managed to jump into the drivers seat and drive it all the way to the North!

He probably just wanted to get to the off license because they close so early here, still a bit extreme though.
You'd need a few drinks after getting done for drink driving.

Sgt. Bilko 09 · 12-12-2011 12:10am

can anyone get the article/or website were it says this

Mike 1972 · 12-12-2011 12:41am

skinny90 wrote: »

a better question would be can they arrest someone accross the border??

IIRC anybody* can perform a "citizens" arrest although not for traffic related offenses.

(* Highly inadvisable to attempt to do it though unless one really knows what one is doing)

twistedsoul · 12-12-2011 1:58am

ThePower11 wrote: »

It was RTE news there now, a man was arrested in Lusk Co.Dublin for drink driving, he was put in the Garda car but managed to jump into the drivers seat and drive it all the way to the North!

nothing on the rte website about that !

ThePower11 · 12-12-2011 2:15am

twistedsoul wrote: »

nothing on the rte website about that !

I heard it on the midnight news on RTE1.

bmcc10 · 12-12-2011 2:24am

Seen this the guards had the helicopter out aswell last i heared the chase was in Banbridge with the PSNI how the fck did he manage to get from Dublin all the lights looked mad on the motorway

Saila · 12-12-2011 2:26am

Sgt. Bilko 09 wrote: »

can anyone get the article/or website were it says this

it was on the midnight news on rte 1

ThePower11 · 12-12-2011 2:29am

ThePower11 wrote: »

I heard it on the midnight news on RTE1.

Saila wrote: »

it was on the midnight news on rte 1

Well spotted.

Abi · 12-12-2011 2:31am

ThePower11 wrote: »

It was RTE news there now, a man was arrested in Lusk Co.Dublin for drink driving, he was put in the Garda car but managed to jump into the drivers seat and drive it all the way to the North!

All the most of us have to worry about in the morning is a wild post or text, imagine when yer man comes to in the morning

I bet he felt like a fuckin' hero :pac:

Run_to_da_hills · 12-12-2011 8:37am

A driver stopped in Dublin on suspicion of drink driving, stole the garda car he had been placed in and drove it to south Armagh. The suspect was stopped in north Dublin at 9pm last night when he undertook his daring escapade.

Embarrising for the Gardai but funny, I thought that anyone under arrest irrespective of crime were supposed to be hand cuffed when transported in the back of a squad car.? They are in the UK.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/drink-driver-steals-garda-car-in-dublin-drives-to-armagh-2960767.html