Belfast Man Jailed After Ramming Police Car in North Belfast

A 34-year-old Belfast man has been sentenced to two years after admitting to a series of driving and criminal damage offences, including an incident in North Belfast where he rammed a police patrol car.

Seamus Denny, of Stockmans Lane, appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday, where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison alongside a further 12 months on supervised licence upon release. He was also handed a five-year driving ban.

The former tiler had previously pleaded guilty to a range of charges, including criminal damage, aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, fraudulent use of a vehicle registration mark, and failing to provide a specimen of breath.

The court heard that on the evening of August 17, 2025, police on mobile patrol in North Belfast spotted a white Volkswagen Golf travelling the wrong way down the one-way system on Great Georges Street. The car continued against the flow of traffic along York Street and onto Frederick Street. The driver lowered his window to make a hand gesture at officers before carrying out a handbrake turn at the junction of Frederick Street and York Street.

When officers pulled up behind the vehicle, Denny reversed directly into the driver's side of the patrol car, leaving two officers suffering from whiplash injuries. Denny then fled on foot toward Little York Street, where he was chased down and arrested. The arresting constable noted that Denny smelled strongly of alcohol, had slurred speech, and refused to provide a breath specimen.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the Golf had been stolen from a local home between August 14 and 15, 2025. Its registration plates had been doctored with tape, and officers discovered bottles of vodka and wine inside the vehicle.

The court was also told of an earlier incident on March 15, 2025, at the Belfast Hilton Hotel. Staff discovered extensive damage to room 801, where a mirror and a glass tabletop were smashed, blood was found on bed linen, and beer bottles and glasses were strewn across the floor. The total cost of repairs exceeded £1,000, and the room was left unusable for a week.

Denny has amassed 86 previous convictions, which include 11 for assaulting police, 14 for criminal damage, and 17 road traffic violations. At the time of these incidents, he was in breach of a suspended sentence.

Defending, counsel Kelly Doherty noted that Denny has a ten-month-old child, an expectant partner, and had been making efforts toward rehabilitation. However, Judge Patrick Lynch KC remarked that Denny had fallen into persistent alcohol and drug misuse, noting that despite claims of reform, there was little evidence of lasting progress before passing down the custodial term.