Armed Galway gardai called in as 'volatile' criminal known for 'dangerous pursuits' drove at officers
The court heard a request was made for armed Garda units and the road policing unit to attend the dangerous driving scene
A ‘volatile’ criminal drove a car at speed at Gardaí in Galway City and was also responsible for using a vehicle to repeatedly ram a van into a family home in Tuam.
Ethan McHale (32), with previous addresses at Lios Na Circe, Saleen, Castlebar, and Waterside, Abbeyfield, Ballinrobe, pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Court to endangerment of a Garda and dangerous driving at or near Terryland on October 16, 2024.
Detective Sergeant Paul McNulty told the court that a damaged Volkswagen Passat driven by the accused, came to the attention of Gardaí at around 9.40am on the day in question.
The car was seen first at Lidl on the Headford Road and then McHale was observed turning into Best Drive Tyres.
Sgt McNulty said he was aware McHale was disqualified from driving at the time and did not have insurance.
He told the court he was also aware of McHale's ‘volatile nature’ and his ‘despicable’ conduct in cars that had previously involved leading Gardaí in Mayo on dangerous pursuits.
The court heard a request was made for armed Garda units and the road policing unit to attend the scene.
At around 10.10am, the court heard, McHale drove back onto the Headford Road where Gardaí at the junction for Terryland alerted him to stop.
Sgt McNulty said the accused drove at speed at Garda Michael Murphy and then weaved in and out of heavy traffic in a ‘reckless manner’.
At a second attempted stop near Tirellan Heights, McHale drove through a red light and narrowly avoided colliding with Garda Connor Mallon and Garda David Kelly.
Sgt McNulty said a decision was made to halt the pursuit as it was deemed too dangerous to continue, due to McHale's driving record and bad weather conditions.
In a second case, McHale pleaded guilty to six charges of criminal damage arising from incidents at residential areas in Tuam and Ballina, Co Mayo, in November 2024.
Detective Sergeant Thomas Doyle told the court that at approximately 5pm on November 14, 2024, McHale was driving a Hyundai Santa Fe jeep that he rammed into a car owned by Laura Ward at her home on Gilmartin Road
The court heard the victim's husband, Charlie Ward, was sitting in the vehicle at the time, and witnesses later reported how the jeep driven by McHale "swerved" to cause the collision.
The court also heard details of other incidents that occurred on November 21, 2024.
Sgt Doyle told the court McHale rammed a Ford Focus owned by Nathan Ward and a motor home owned by Ann Ward, that had been parked outside their homes at St Enda's Avenue, Tuam.
The court heard McHale later drove a black Honda SUV to Gilmartin Road where he rammed a van owned by Charlie Ward into a property at Gort Na Chláir.
Sgt Doyle said the CCTV shows McHale repeatedly ramming Mr Ward's van into the front of the house.
The court heard a mother and her young daughter were inside the house at the time, with the woman later saying: "The next thing I heard was a loud bang and the curtains and window shook. I got up and checked my daughter who was in awful state".
Galway County Council stated the property suffered extensive structural damage and the costs to repair it were in the region of €64,000.
Charlie Ward estimated that the cost of damage to his van was €18,252.88.
McHale was also responsible for ramming a vehicle owned by Patrick Ward at his home in St Patrick's estate, Ballina at around 1.16am on November 22, 2024.
Sgt Doyle said the vehicle used in each of the incidents were sourced specifically for the attacks and were later found burned out in Ballinrobe.
The vehicles were also registered using false names and addresses.
Sgt Doyle said investigating gardai believe the reason for the attacks was that McHale ‘inserted himself in a feud’ and carried out the attacks for other persons.
The court heard McHale has 33 previous convictions including nine for dangerous driving and convictions for endangerment.
He has been in custody since November 2024 after being refused bail in the High Court, the court was told.
Defence barrister, Christina Burke BL, told the court her client "wishes to offer a serious apology for his actions".
Judge Brian O'Callaghan said the accused is facing a severe sentence, and the court would be open to a defence application for the preparation of a report by a forensic psychologist.
Judge O'Callaghan said the court noted the accused had been described as ‘volatile’ and "there is a clear suggestion he was doing the dirty work for others".
Ethan McHale was remanded in custody to appear again in December.