The 12-year-old girl outside Limerick District Court yesterday. The picture has been altered to protect her identity

Clare hurler and Limerick-based garda Tony Carmody pursued the stolen van through the streets of Limerick city after receiving a report of dangerous driving

A 12-YEAR-OLD schoolgirl has been charged with dangerously driving a Hiace van, brazenly speeding past one of the country's main garda stations, before ramming a patrol car.

The child, who is barely four feet tall, was alleged to have been involved in the dangerous driving incident in Limerick city, shortly after 3am on Monday morning.

Renowned Clare hurler and Limerick-based garda, Tony Carmody, was involved in a chase through the city's streets and into the surrounding estates.

A dangerous driving report was made to gardai by a passing motorist on the Dock Road, which is one of the city's busiest thoroughfares.

With gardai in pursuit, complete with flashing lights and sirens blaring, a late night journey across Limerick city ensued.

From Henry Street, the stolen van journeyed onto O'Connell Street and up Mallow Street, towards the city's bus and railway station on Parnell Street.

Braking

The van driver broke several red lights and was swerving all over the roads. It continued through traffic lights without braking for "stop signs" onto Wickham Street, John Square, before ending up in Garryowen, on the city's southside.

As gardai attempted to block the van, its driver rammed one of the patrol cars, before fleeing from the scene to a nearby house.

The blonde-haired child appeared in Limerick juvenile court yesterday afternoon and could barely be seen by the rest of the court when Judge Tom O'Donnell asked her to sit down. Her mother was also present.

She was charged with five charges of dangerous driving, one count of criminal damage to a squad car and further charges of driving without a licence and no insurance by Garda Tony Carmody of Henry Street garda station.

She also faces two public order charges from Garda Ann Harrington and her colleague Paula Cregan, relating to an allegation which is alleged to have occurred last July.

The judge ordered that she obey a curfew between 8pm and 8am and stay at an address given.

She was also ordered to stay out of certain areas of the city. The accused girl was granted bail on a bond of €100. Judge O'Donnell asked the probation services to investigate the matter and prepare a probation report. He adjourned the case until on September 30.