A man who drove off in a stolen taxi in Holyhead, struck a cyclist and then headed the wrong way along the A55 has been jailed for three years.
Darragh O’Grady, 31, was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday 10 November. He was also disqualified from driving for five and a half years.
O’Grady, who has no fixed abode and is from Ireland, had earlier pleaded guilty to a series of offences.
What he admitted
- Causing serious injury by dangerous driving
- Dangerous driving
- Aggravated vehicle taking
- Failing to provide a specimen for analysis
- Theft
- Fraud by false representation
He also admitted other driving offences.
Off the ferry and into a taxi
O’Grady had come into Holyhead port on a ferry on 24 August. Later that evening, he took a taxi from Holborn Road in the town.
The way he was driving prompted a number of calls to the police control room, with other road users forced to swerve out of his path. Several parked vehicles were damaged along the way.
Cyclist hit
Not long afterwards, the taxi struck a cyclist on London Road, leaving them with serious and lasting injuries. O’Grady carried on without stopping.
Against the traffic on the A55
He went on to drive the taxi onto the westbound carriageway of the A55, heading in the wrong direction.
Officers from the Roads Crime Unit brought other traffic to a safe stop, then used a stinger to halt the taxi near Rhosneigr. O’Grady was arrested and taken into custody.
Items stolen on the ferry
Searches later turned up bank cards and a mobile phone that had been reported stolen on the same ferry O’Grady had arrived on that day. By the time they were found, more than £200 of the owner’s money had been spent.
Police response
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Nick Evans said:
“O’Grady’s actions that evening were reckless and inherently dangerous.
“The A55 is the main route to Holyhead Port and at national speed limit, it is incredibly lucky that no fatalities occurred.
“Without the courageous response by officers to resolve the situation, the consequences could have been devastating.
“I once again thank the community for quickly raising the alert to O’Grady’s behaviour and their support throughout this investigation.”
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