Lorry driver breaks roadblock with illegal waste

A gardai checkpoint in Ashbourne, Co. Meath was driven through by a lorry driver transporting illegal waste from Northern Ireland, Trim Circuit Criminal Court heard on Wednesday (July 5th).
Garda Eamonn Boland told the court that he stopped Paul McArdle, Killeavy, Newry, Co. Down driving a lorry near the M50 toll bridge on April 2nd, 2005.

The truck was transporting domestic and construction waste and when the garda went back to his jeep, the defendant drove off at speed on the M50.
Following a chase of two miles, a garda response unit set up a checkpoint on the N2 with two armed detectives lining the route. However, despite the detectives drawing their guns, McArdle continued to drive through, before jumping out of the lorry further down the road.

Judge Pat McCartan found the defendant guilty of endangerment and imposed a nine-month jail term and fined him Eu10,000.