Woman jailed for endangering garda during pursuit

A woman in Ireland has been sentenced to two years in jail after a dangerous high-speed chase with police. Gemma Greene, 28, live-streamed the chase while driving recklessly on the M50 motorway. The incident took place on March 1, 2021. Greene pleaded guilty to endangering a garda's life. During the pursuit, she drove at speeds of 150 to 200 km/h, ignoring traffic rules. A police officer had to make evasive maneuvers to avoid being hit by her car. The chase lasted about one hour before it ended with police deploying a stinger to stop her vehicle. The court heard that Greene had four previous convictions, which included road traffic offenses. Judge Martin Nolan highlighted the seriousness of her actions, stating she could have seriously harmed or killed someone. He imposed a two-year prison sentence and disqualified her from driving for four years. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Greene had been under the influence of cocaine at the time of the incident. Her lawyer described Greene's troubled past, including a difficult upbringing and past substance abuse. Greene expressed remorse for her actions and apologized to the gardaí involved in the chase. The court also learned that Greene has since had two children, is in stable accommodation, and is no longer using drugs. Her defense team requested a suspended sentence, stating that she has changed her life since the event. However, the judge emphasized that a prison sentence was necessary for such dangerous behavior.