Pursued driver with flashing blue lights in ‘completely foolish’ prank

A barber has admitted attempting to pursue a motorist along the Joe Dolan Bridge in Mullingar by activating flashing blue lights in a “very reckless” prank before being caught a week later without insurance for a second time.

Ahmad Al Hassan (22) of 99 Abbeylands, Mullingar, Westmeath pleaded guilty to two counts of driving without insurance on May 3 and May 10, 2025 at Lynn Road, Mullingar and Fairgreen Mullingar as well as careless driving following an incident during the early hours of November 11, 2024.

That plea was accepted by the state and Judge Bernadette Owens after Mr Hassan had originally been charged with dangerous driving, last week’s sitting of Mullingar District Court heard.

Mr Hassan, it was confirmed, had been identified through the registration number of his Hyundai i40 shortly after a motorist mistakenly believed he was being pursued by an emergency vehicle.

Sgt Orla Keenan told the court the driver spotted Mr Hassan’s vehicle driving erratically with what appeared to be blue lights, similar to those used by gardaí, “drive up behind him” and in a “dangerous fashion”.

When gardaí later tracked down and spoke with Mr Hassan, he told investigators he believed he had been “playing a prank” on a car he mistakenly believed belonged to a friend.

The court was told that some six months later Mr Hassan was stopped twice inside the space of seven days with no insurance. The first, Sgt Keenan explained, was just before 2am on May 3 last year when gardaí stopped the accused behind the wheel of an 2011 registered black BMW.

Mr Hassan told officers at the scene of his lack of adequate policy cover when quizzed about the status of his insurance disk.

The vehicle was seized, and the court heard Mr Hassan reclaimed the vehicle, before being caught for a second time just before 10pm while driving along the Fairgreen area in Mullingar.

Defending barrister, Andrea Callan, BL, said Mr Hassan was in a “very unfortunate” position despite a lack ofany previous convictions.

She said there was no getting away from the mindless actions that led to Mr Hassan’s decision to masquerade as a member of the emergency services during the careless driving incident of some 15 months earlier.

“The explanation provided is that it (victim’s car) was a friend of his,” she said, while suggesting Mr Hassan was also in the company of a number of other young males on the night.

In also indicating it had been another individual who activated the flashing blue lights, Ms Callan said the two “absolutely stupid decisions” her client had made in driving without insurance in a short time had extenuating factors attached.

“It was a completely foolish thing to do, he has apologised and he takes full responsibility for it,” she said.

“He had got a policy of insurance which was €5,000, but unfortunately he found himself in financial difficulty and the policy was cancelled.”

Ms Callan said Mr Hassan had been striving towards renewing his insurance when he was stopped while en route to an all-night garage.

“Obviously, having not learned his lesson, he drove to work to keep up his employment.”

Having pleaded to the charges before the court, Ms Callan appealed for an element of leniency for her client.

She said that was on the grounds Mr Hassan had two sisters who were in ill-health and who relied on him for transport to Tempe Street Hospital in Dublin.

A letter of apology was handed in on Mr Hassan’s behalf, a transcript Ms Callan said demonstrated “genuine remorse” at the ill-judged actions of the accused.

“Whatever about getting into the car on the first occasion, the second was absolute madness,” she said.

“He is going to be disqualified for a significant period and I would ask the court to give him a chance as he is working and contributing to his family.”

Judge Owens, having temporarily remanded Mr Hassan in custody to consider her judgement, issued a €350 fine for the first no insurance offence, giving him eight months to pay.

The charges of careless driving and second no insurance charge, together with a failure to produce summons and mobilisation of a flashing light were adjourned to May 14 next to allow Mr Hassan fund and complete a pro-social driving course.

Should that prove positive, Judge Owens said she would treat the second no insurance summons as being akin to a first section 56 conviction.

Legal aid was, meanwhile, also granted to Mr Hassan.