Two men denied bail over allegedly driving wrong way down M50

Two men have been denied bail after being charged in connection with a traffic pursuit involving a stolen car that allegedly drove the wrong way on the M50 in Dublin. Daniel Brown, 22, and Adam White, 25, both from Hampton Wood in Dublin 11, appeared in Dublin District Court on Monday. They were charged with multiple offenses, including dangerous driving, being in a stolen Volkswagen Golf Estate, and possession of cannabis. White faces additional charges related to the sale or supply of cannabis. Brown was charged with four counts of dangerous driving, being in the stolen car, and possession of cannabis. Both men are also accused of possessing a stolen key to a Toyota car and theft implements. Garda Dylan Toner from Coolock Garda Station testified during the hearing, stating that the pair were arrested following a 40-minute traffic pursuit and were "caught red-handed." According to Toner, the incident was recorded by a garda helicopter via CCTV, which has since been downloaded. The two men did not have legal representation due to an ongoing industrial dispute over legal aid fee reforms introduced in July. As a result, they chose to represent themselves in court. During the proceedings, Garda Toner objected to granting bail, citing the severity of the charges and the nature of the incident. He expressed concern that even with bail conditions, the risks posed by the defendants could not be adequately mitigated. During cross-examination, Brown questioned whether Garda Toner had seen him exit the driver's side of the vehicle. Judge Karen Dowling cautioned Brown about the potential for self-incrimination. Brown claimed he was merely a passenger in the stolen car and raised his hands in surrender. White denied any involvement with the car, stating, "I had nothing to do with the car." Both men had received medical attention while in garda custody for minor injuries and were deemed fit to attend court. Brown had facial bruises, while White, a father of three, mentioned a sore ankle. Despite these circumstances, Judge Dowling ruled that the threshold for denying bail had been met and ordered both men to remain in custody until their next appearance at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. According to gardaí, a third individual, a teenage boy, was arrested but later released pending referral to the youth diversion program. The case is expected to proceed to the circuit court once the book of evidence is finalized.