Man drove through church grounds to avoid police, court told

A man with 128 previous convictions drove into the grounds of a church where a funeral was taking place to escape police, a court in Londonderry has been told.

Dean Beattie, 31, from Glenvale Road, Derry, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance on 14 January.

He is also charged with driving while unfit due to drink or drugs and having diazepam on the same date.

Remanding Mr Beattie in custody, District Judge Barney McElholm described him as a "clear and present danger to the public".

A police witness told Londonderry Magistrates' Court a routine patrol observed the defendant in a car in the William Street area of the city at 09:20 GMT on Tuesday.

Officers recognised him as being disqualified from driving and signalled for him to stop but he drove into oncoming traffic, causing other cars to swerve to avoid him.

He then drove into the grounds of St. Eugene's Cathedral, where another car was blocking his attempted escape route, the court heard.

Mr Beattie was said to have rammed into the car before police managed to take the keys out of the ignition and arrest him.

Police said he later tested positive for traces of cocaine and cannabis and a diazepam tablet was also found in his possession.

During interview, he admitted to driving the car despite knowing he had no licence and claimed that his driving wasn't dangerous.

The court was told he has 128 previous convictions, including 29 for driving offences and 31 in relation to drugs.

A defence barrister told the court the defendant had made "certain admissions" and "clearly has a very bad record" but that he had not offended since June 2024.

He will appear in court again on 12 February.