Romanian man crashed on M50 before hi-jacking another car, running over a man and causing a Garda chase

A 26-year-old Romanian man was given a five year sentence, the final year of which is suspended, after he was convicted for a number of different offences following a plethora of dangerous acts in October 2014.

Petrica Lucaci crashed his car into a toll booth on the M50 on October 7 2014, before walking for several hours to Dublin Airport and hi-jacking a BMW car after kicking and punching the owner of the vehicle. He then drove through a pedestrian crossing during his escape attempt, knocking down a taxi driver who was attempting to help Mr Lucaci's victim, before fleeing the scene and causing a dangerous chase with Gardaí.

During the chase Mr Lucaci broke two sets of red lights and drove against two lanes of traffic on the dual-carriageway on the Naul Road, before going the wrong way around the Ballymun Road Roundabout and just about missing an articulated truck. The chase ultimately came to an end when he crashed while trying to perform a U-turn, but he was wasn't finished there as he assaulted three members of Gardaí while they attempted to restrain him.

He was brought to Beaumont Hospital where he later assaulted two members of staff.

Mr Lucaci pleaded guilty to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle, attempted unlawful seizure of a vehicle, assaulting Kevin O'Brien causing him harm, assault of Garda Adrian McHugh, assaulting two security officers at Beaumont Hospital, two charges of endangerment and dangerous driving on October 7, 2014.

Judge Terrence O'Sullivan sentenced him to five years with the final one suspended, while he also banned him from driving for six years and ordered him to undergo anger management when released from prison.