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A former member of the Defence Forces who “used his vehicle as a weapon” and drove at another male has been jailed.
Derek Donegan, 39, left his victim in fear that he was about to be killed in the horror incident that happened in north Louth in April 2021.
At Dundalk Circuit Court, the ex-corporal pleaded guilty to endangerment on April 25, 2021 and was handed a two-and-a half year sentence.
Judge Dara Hayes ordered him to serve an identical term after he admitted assaulting his partner causing her harm at a friend’s house in Dublin in July last year.
The court heard Donegan, of Hyde Park in Dundalk, Co Louth, who has 14 previous road traffic convictions, had an alcohol and cocaine problem.
He has quit drink and drugs and has reconciled with his partner.
The court previously heard that on Sunday, April 25, 2021, a Seat Leon was rear ended by a Ford Connect van driven by the defendant on the Ballymascanlon roundabout in Louth. Both vehicles pulled over and the drivers got out. Donegan apologised for driving too close but showed no concern about the damage.
As the victim took photos of the damage and looked for insurance details, Donegan drove at him, hitting him with his van below the knees.
The court heard the victim landed on the bonnet but was “dumped” onto the road and feared for his life.
Donegan sped off and the victim drove after him.
When he pulled alongside, the thug rammed his car into a ditch. The victim asked bystanders to call gardai and was treated in hospital for cuts and back pain.
Donegan was arrested and admitted to rear-ending the car but offered no explanation.
In the other offence, he and his partner were leaving a friend’s house in Erne Terrace in Dublin where they had drinks.
An argument broke out and she told him to go back to Dundalk. However, he walked towards her and struck her in the face. She was treated at hospital for pain and shock.
The woman then made a statement of withdrawal to gardai and said she and Donegan have reconciled.
In sentencing, Judge Dara Hayes said: “In the endangerment offence he used his vehicle as a weapon and sought to flee after he struck the injured party’s car.
“An aggravating factor for the assault is that it was inter-partner violence and Section 40 of the Domestic Violence Act states to take specific account of that and a higher sentence is required than otherwise.
He imposed a total of four and a half years for both offences with the final 18 months suspended and banned Donegan from driving for five years.
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