A MAN endangered the life of a high-ranking garda when he hit him with a car before fleeing the scene at high speed, a court has heard.
Unemployed Jeffrey Moran, pictured here for the first time, appeared before Judge Andrew Cody at Tullamore District Court on Wednesday over the incident last month.
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It is claimed that 35-year-old Moran changed the “false plates” of the Audi car following the incident, which saw the officer rushed to hospital by ambulance.
It is also alleged he drove at another garda days before the incident and “narrowly missed” him while days after it, he sped away from cops at 190kph.
Moran, dressed in a black Under Armour tracksuit, sat in the dock as Detective Sergeant Brian Jennings was sworn in and gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.
Det Sgt Jennings said he arrested the accused outside Portlaoise District Court on Tuesday morning at 11.40am.
Almost 12 hours later, at 11.10pm, he charged Moran — who was cautioned but made no reply.
Moran is accused of endangering the life of the senior garda.
It is alleged Moran intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct by driving a black Audi, with a reg of 152-CN-759 at the time, at the officer and hit him with the car, putting his life at risk at Collins Lane, Tullamore.
Moran, of College View, Rahan, in Tullamore, is further charged with an assault causing harm to another man outside a pub on the main street of Shannonbridge, Co Offaly, on April 1, 2024.
He also faces a further string of raps in relation to dangerous driving and possession of cocaine and cannabis at his own address.
Det Sgt Jennings objected to bail citing the seriousness of the charges and fears that the accused would commit further crimes.
Endangerment carries up to seven years behind bars if convicted, while assault causing harm has a term of up to ten years.
‘THE CAR DROVE AT HIM’
Det Sgt Jennings told the court that on January 23 last, the detective garda attempted to stop a black 152 Audi car driving suspiciously in Tullamore.
However, the car fled and the garda chased after it in an unmarked state vehicle.
The Audi broke a number of red lights before the garda managed to get in front and stopped the car.
The garda got out and approached the Audi before it drove at him, struck him and made its escape.
The court heard the garda was taken to hospital by ambulance and suffered leg and whiplash injuries. He identified the driver as accused Moran.
Det Sgt Jennings alleged that before this incident, on January 18, the accused drove at another garda and narrowly missed him.
He claimed that days after the second alleged incident, on January 25, Moran sped away from gardai — driving at 190kph.
Det Sgt Jennings also gave details of the assault causing harm charge. He said on April 1 in Shannonbridge, the accused followed a man from inside a pub, assaulting and punching him outside.
The alleged injured party suffered bruising and Moran was identified from footage on CCTV.
A legal aid application was adjourned until Moran’s next appearance date.
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