Brian Rattigan's ex-partner drove dangerously on the M50 and tried to flee on foot
Natasha McEnroe was fined, banned from driving and given community service in lieu of four months in prison
Natasha McEnroe
Convicted killer Brian Rattigan.
Gangster Brian Rattigan’s ex-girlfriend Natasha McEnroe drunkenly drove her high-powered Audi on Dublin’s M50, and then tried to flee by running across lanes of the motorway, a court has heard.
McEnroe (40) had to be restrained over a crash barrier at the M50 toll bridge, after detectives from the Armed Support Unit (ASU) tried to stop her car. She only came to a stop due to damage to her car, a garda said.
McEnroe was in the depths of an alcohol addiction at the time, but she has been now sober for two years.
Judge David McHugh fined McEnroe €500, banned her from driving for four years and ordered her to complete 150 hours’ community service in lieu of four months in prison.
The defendant, with an address at Swan Grove in Rathmines, admitted dangerous and drunken driving, as well as uninsured driving.
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Garda Gavin Campbell told Blanchardstown District Court he was on patrol on March 29, 2020, when he received an assistance call from the ASU, who were dealing with an incident between J6 and J7 on the M50.
When he arrived at the toll bridge, McEnroe was being restrained over the crash barrier, Gda Campbell said. She was shouting, behaving erratically and appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant.and out of other road users
He spoke to members of the ASU, who said they were on mobile patrol when they came across a woman driving a grey Audi.
McEnroe was driving at high speed, and swerving in and out of other road users.
Convicted killer Brian Rattigan.
Gda Campbell said gardaí directed McEnroe to stop, but she failed to do so, and only came to a halt as the car broke down.
He said McEnroe then tried to flee the scene, running across lanes of the M50.
The defendant was taken to Clondalkin garda station, where she gave a blood sample to gardaí, which produced a reading of 203mgs of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
The court heard McEnroe had 42 previous convictions.
McEnroe’s lawyer said the defendant was “highly, highly intoxicated” at the time, and fully aware of the danger she had put herself in, as well as gardaí and the public. McEnroe was extremely ashamed and embarrassed at her behaviour, the lawyer said.
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McEnroe was in the depths of an alcohol addiction at the time. The mother of three had a traumatic childhood and witnessed the deaths of a number of friends, the lawyer said.
McEnroe used drink as a coping mechanism. However, she was now sober, and had been so since 2023.
She was very concerned about going to jail, and the lawyer asked Judge McHugh to be as lenient as possible.
The judge said these were the most serious offences, but due to the mitigation he would not impose a custodial sentence.
McEnroe was formerly in a relationship with crime boss Rattigan, who was one of the leaders of the bloody Crumlin-Drimnagh feud, which claimed 16 lives.
