‘blood everywhere’ | 

Banned driver who seriously injured garda after dragging him along road is jailed

The garda got away from the vehicle after 40 metres but hit his head with one witness remarking there was “blood everywhere” and he thought the officer was dead.

Today at 19:40

A YOUNG disqualified driver who sped away from gardaí with an officer hanging from his car window has been jailed for three and-a-half years.

George Richard Asimionesei caused the officer to suffer serious head injuries after suddenly accelerating from where he had been stopped by gardaí.

He crashed his red BMW coupe a short distance away after hitting a speed bump but was arrested the next day after gardaí threw a cordon around Straffan village in Co Kildare.

Asimionesei, who was already banned from driving at the time of the incident in August 2022, had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment.

Garda Representative Association president Brendan O’Connor said such cases highlight the need for patrol cars to be equipped with cameras.

This week it emerged in court officers had become suspicious of the car driving through Clane at speed and when stopped at Barberstown Cross they became suspicious as Asimionesei was unable to produce a licence.

After inspecting the boot with Asimionesei, he got back into the driver’s seat when the officer asked him for the key.

But instead of giving the key to the officer who had reached in for it, Asimionesei hit the accelerator and took off.

The garda got away from the vehicle after 40 metres but hit his head with one witness remarking there was “blood everywhere” and he thought the officer was dead.

While Asimionesei denied being the driver the next day his phone was found in the vehicle while his thumbprint was on the steering wheel.

While the officer involved had asked for privacy in relation to his Victim Impact Statement, Judge Martina Baxter referred to the serious injuries and the devastating impact it had on him and his family.

Judge Baxter commended the officer for his bravery and that having served seven or so years had a great career ahead of him before his resignation.

She added she found the fact Asimionesei was already serving a two-year driving ban as a “highly aggravating factor” in her sentencing remarks at Naas Circuit Court.

The situation the garda had found himself in must have “traumatising and frightening” according to Judge Baxter.

She noted that while Asimionesei said his actions had been fueled by panic, he had intentionally bought the Northern Irish car for €9,000 while knowing he was a disqualified driver.

At the start of the sentence hearing Asimionesei offered an apology to the officer and his family for what he had put them through and promised he would never be before judge anywhere again.

Judge Baxter said she accepted his apology as genuine but had to take various aggravating factors into account including a probation assessment that he was at “moderate risk” of re-offending.

Asimionesei had brought €2,000 to court to offer as compensation but the former garda turned down the offer and the cash was directed to go to a charity instead.

It was also taken into account that Asimionesei had absconded after getting High Court bail but had been in custody after turning himself in in February 2023.

Judge Baxter imposed four and a half years with the final 12 months of the sentence suspended, back dated to when he went into custody.

Reacting to the case on Friday, Brendan O’Connor the president of the Garda Representative Association acknowledged “the imposition of a custodial sentence in this case.”

“The reckless or intentional use of a vehicle is perhaps the most common danger faced by members on routine patrol.”

“Earlier this week we saw two members injured in a ramming incident in Co. Leitrim.”

“We believe every member should be given out of car safety training and more patrol vehicles need to be fitted with cameras that record evidence of such incidents.”

“All too often we hear appeals for footage from dash cams belonging to members of the public yet despite the prevalence of such incidents our own fleet is not fitted with cameras.