Gardaí arrest driver after 160kph pursuit in same area of fatal crash Co Donegal

The car sped through a number of townlands and other garda cars were forced to join the pursuit to apprehend the driver.

When stopped the driver had a number of passengers on board and drugs were also found in the car late on Thursday evening.

A Garda spokesman said "The driver had no regard for his own safety, that of his passengers or the local community.

"Thankfully, no other road users were put in danger. With the assistance of other patrol units we were able to apprehend the car and arrest the driver."

The pursuit comes less than three weeks after the locality was ripped apart following a deadly crash which killed four popular young men at nearby Meenacladdy on Sunday, January 27.

John Harley (24) and Shaun Harkin (22) from Falcarragh, Mícheál Roarty (24) from Gaoth Dobhair and Daniel Scott from Gort an Choirce, aged 23, all died when their Toyota Corolla car left the road and rolled over onto its roof.

Gardai are still investigating the cause of the crash.

At the funeral of the men, parish priest of Gortahork Fr Sean Gallchoir appealed to people to take extra care when they get behind the wheel.

He said “Life is precious and life is brittle, life is very fragile, we saw that on Sunday night. Everybody hurts,” he said.

Every time that I sit into a car, that you sit into your car there should be the deep decision and resolution to drive with care, to drive with attention, to drive safely so that no harm will fall on anybody.

“The car is a lethal weapon. We all know that life is busy, life is hectic, we’re all in a rush, we’re all in a hurry, we all have deadlines but deadlines can sometimes result in dead lives,” he said.

Meanwhile, gardaí have arrested a young man in connection with Thursday night's incident.

He has been charged with dangerous driving and not having insurance.