A man drove for almost a kilometre with his girlfriend hanging on to the bonnet of her car after he stormed out of a pub in Co Cork, a court has heard.
Gareth Noonan (38) pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment of Dixie Jebb and taking her car without her permission at the Arches Bar, Bellevue, Mallow in Co Cork on July 30th, 2014.
Judge Seán O’Donnabháin described Noonan’s behaviour as outrageous with little regard for the safety or well-being of his now former girlfriend, with whom he remains on good terms.
“To think that he drove through the town of Mallow for almost a kilometre with this woman on the bonnet of his car,” said the judge.
Garda Brian Callinan told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that Noonan, from Shahanagh, Doneraile, Co Cork had been drinking with Ms Jebb. When they had a row, he left the pub and took her Volvo car.
She tried to stop him by getting on the bonnet but he continued driving, but not at great speed, said Garda Callinan. Noonan eventually came to a stop when he crashed into a parked car.
Defence counsel, Elizabeth O’Connell SC, said that the couple, who had a tempestuous relationship when they were drinking, had continued with their argument after the crash.
Judge O Donnabháin said he believed the case merited a custodial sentence. “I don’t know what was going through his head, what he was countenancing. I have to take it very seriously, it was outrageous and he only stopped when he collided with another car,” he said.
He said Noonan was also facing a driving ban.
The judge remanded Noonan in custody for sentence on June 11th.
