Waterford teen led gardaí on high-speed chase with stolen car
Waterford Courthouse.
A teenager who was found to be driving a stolen car has had his case put back a year to give him a chance to earn a suspended sentence.
Sean Moran (18), of 9 Avondale Drive, Waterford, was before Waterford District Court charged with three counts of dangerous driving, breaching traffic calming measures, driving without insurance, and failure to produce a driver's licence for an incident on August 2, 2025.
The defendant was also charged with driving without insurance related to an incident involving a scrambler bike on October 8, 2025.
Sergeant Michael Hickey told the court that on July 31, 2025, gardaí received a report of a car that was stolen from outside a home in Bonmahon. On August 2, 2025, gardaí were on patrol in St John’s Park when they observed a vehicle driving erratically. The vehicle was identified as the stolen car, but when gardaí attempted to stop it, the driver sped off through St John's Park, Birchwood, and out to the ring road.
The court was told that the car was going in excess of 100km/hour in a residential area and speeding through pedestrian crossings. The vehicle came to a stop in Birchwood, where the occupants attempted to flee on foot. The defendant was identified as the driver.
On October 8, the defendant, who was one of two youths on scrambler bikes, saluted an off-duty garda. The guard recognised the defendant and called it in. The defendant was found not to have insurance for the bike.
Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham said that his client was not involved in stealing the vehicle, though he was found to be driving it. Mr Cunningham said he had fallen in with a peer group, but living with his mother has had a “stabilising effect” on him. He has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, but is working his way to training as a carpenter.
The solicitor said his client was asking for a chance to “contribute something positive to society”.
Regarding the bike, Mr Cunningham said his client had been “oblivious” to his insurance obligation and licence responsibilities.
Judge John Cheatle said he was most concerned about the high-speed chase and was hesitant to impose a suspended sentence.
Mr Cunningham said that he had explained this to him, but that he had taken some steps to improve.
Judge Cheatle put the matter back and said that if the defendant does not come to any more negative garda attention, he would consider a suspended sentence and community service for the high-speed chase.
With regards to the no insurance matter, the judge disqualified him from driving for four years.
The defendant was remanded on continuing bail until December 2026 and a probation report ordered.
