A man who was dealing drugs in Killarney and crashed into cars while attempting to avoid arrest, has been jailed for four months.
33-year-old Patryk Gutkowski, of 5 Bridgefield, Killarney, was sentenced by Judge David Waters for a string of drug and road traffic offences.
His solicitor Pádraig O’Connell said his client was “somewhat of a dope act” but he’s taking responsibility for his actions.
Mr Gutkowski was before the court on a string of drug offences, as well as possession of a weapon, and driving offences.
The first of these was possession of €600 worth of cannabis and €300 worth of cocaine at his address on 3rd September 2024.
On the 11th October 2024, staff members at the Grand in Killarney noticed Mr Gutkowski acting suspiciously in a nearby laneway, and called the gardaí.
The court heard considerable force had to be used to restrain him, including batons and pepper spray, and he was found with just under €1,000 worth of cocaine, and €90 worth of amphetamine.
He also admitted to possession of drugs on various other dates, as well as possession of a boxcutter knife on 27th December 2024.
His crimes culminated in a car chase in Tralee town centre on 3rd February this year, with Mr Gutkowski causing damage to two cars by crashing into them, as he drove away from gardaí trying to evade arrest.
After he crashed the car a second time that day, he ran away on foot and was caught shortly after.
On that date, he was driving while disqualified, while he was also not insured and the car had a false licence plate.
His solicitor Pádraig O’Connell said his client was not the owner of the vehicle and was being egged on by other people, but he takes full responsibility for driving it.
On the drug matters, Mr O’Connell said his client was somewhat of a dope act, and was involved with people he shouldn’t have been.
Mr O’Connell said he saved the state significant resources by pleading guilty.
Judge David Waters said Mr Gutkowski continued to deal drugs while on bail, and handed him ten different jail sentences totalling four months from today.
Corrected at 3:30pm on April 9th, 2026: The correct total sentence imposed on Mr Gutkowski is four months from yesterday, as the majority of his sentences were backdated to when he entered custody on 4th February.
