Bodybuilder (29) withdraws appeal against sentence for intentionally ramming gardaí in Limerick

David Raleigh

A drugged-up bodybuilder who rammed and seriously injured two Limerick gardaí has withdrawn an appeal against his six-year sentence, imposed in 2023.

Evan Toomey (29), Oak Park, Ennis, Co Clare, left two of the Limerick Garda Roads Policing Unit, Garda Niall Deegan and Garda Alan Griffin, with life-changing injuries when he drove a Mazda 6 car into their Garda patrol SUV, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court previously heard.

Toomey was high on a cocktail of cocaine and cannabis and in possession of €3,000 worth of drugs, and he became spooked when a Garda patrol car approached his Mazda at the carpark of the Crescent Shopping Centre, Limerick, on November 19th, 2019.

Toomey suddenly reversed away from the patrol car at speed, mounted a kerb and drove the wrong way against the flow of traffic.

Toomey overtook an ambulance on the wrong side of a blind bend of a roadway at Mungret, Co Limerick, then drove through a housing estate before entering the Limerick tunnel, where he swerved the car across both lanes and drove through a toll barrier.

Garda Griffin and Garda Deegan, traveling in a Hyundai Tucson Garda patrol SUV, heard a call for back-up and ed the pursuit of Toomey’s car.

The two gardaí activated their vehicle’s blue lights and parked it on Clonmacken Roundabout in an effort to steer the Mazda away from the city centre and protect other motorists and pedestrians, Toomey’s sentencing hearing heard on October 27th, 2023.

The court heard that Toomey mounted the roundabout island and smashed directly into the front enger side of the Garda vehicle, in which both gardaí were seated.

Prosecuting counsel, John O’Sullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, and assisted by Garda Inspector Fergal Hanrahan, said Toomey “made no effort to evade the marked Garda vehicle, which was pushed across the roundabout and into a sign”.

Toomey, along with an unidentified front seat enger, fled the wreckage, running into a nearby housing estate where they were later arrested.

Toomey initially denied driving the Mazda but eventually itted he was the driver after a forensic analysis of the car resulted in his DNA being found on an airbag at the driver’s side that deployed during the collision.

Toomey, who had 89 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to one count of causing criminal damage with intent to endanger life, which carries a maximum life sentence.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving and to one count of possession of cocaine and cannabis, at the same location, on the same date.

Garda Griffin sustained two cracked ribs, a broken sternum, whiplash and tissue damage to his neck and shoulder. He underwent surgery to remove damaged sections of two vertebrae in his spine, and he developed post-concussion syndrome as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and required further spinal surgery.

Garda Griffin stated in his victim impact statement: “I have been unable to complete the most simple of tasks, for example, changing my child’s nappy or dressing him; and lifting my child and performing everyday tasks like playing with him were extremely difficult.”

“I will never forget thinking my colleague (Garda Deegan) was dead, as he lay unconscious beside me. I will never forget November 19th, 2019.”

Garda Deegan did regain consciousness following the collision, but he continued to suffer pain in his neck, back and shoulders due to injuries sustained in the collision.

Garda Deegan said he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and had to retrain his vision and relearn how to balance himself.

Garda Deegan stated in his victim impact statement: “I genuinely thought that Garda Alan Griffin and I were going to die. There was no attempt by the driver, Evan Toomey, to take any avoidance action.”

Toomey’s own barrister, junior counsel Yvonne Quinn, told his sentencing hearing in October 2023 that his behaviour was “disgraceful and appalling”.

She said her instructions were that Toomey was “truly sorry”, and she said that “drugs are at the root of his difficulties”.

“He was under the influence of cocaine and cannabis at the time, he became paranoid, and he panicked,” Ms Quinn said.

At the time, the two injured gardaí said they did not accept Toomey was genuinely remorseful.

Sentencing Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed a seven year sentence, suspending the final 12 months, and said Toomey had engaged in an “outrageous” and “deliberate and intentional act”.

The judge said that Toomey “knew the Garda vehicle was occupied” when he drove into it.

Moments before his appeal was due to be heard today, Ms Quinn said Toomey had instructed her that he “wishes to withdraw his appeal”.

The three-judge court allowed the appeal withdrawal, and Toomey was returned to jail.