An inquest into the death of Paul Boyd (25), from Fairlawn Road, Finglas, heard on Tuesday that an unmarked patrol car began its pursuit because the motorcyclist was speeding. Gardai did not realise Boyd was driving a stolen motorbike when they began the chase, the inquest heard.

Barrister for the Boyd family, Dean Kelly, claimed at the inquest that Garda guidelines stipulate that a pursuit at speed should not be launched for minor traffic offences, or even if a stolen car has been spotted. Gardai are advised not to pursue someone at speed if "it risks causing injury to other road users", according to Supt Kevin Donohoe, head of the Garda press office. "Tailing, as opposed to pursuing, should achieve the desired objective. But in exceptional circumstances, it may be necessary to breach this, " he added.

Joanne Boyd, a sister, said a Garda chase in those circumstances was unnecessary and many people's lives had been put at risk. "As far as we're concerned, they brought him to his death. It was far too dangerous for them to be chasing him around the back roads of Finglas just because they said he was speeding, it doesn't make any sense, " she added.

Boyd was more than two times over the drink-drive limit when he crashed at the junction of Hartstown Road and Inglewood Road in the early hours of 16 October, 2003.

Dublin County Coroner's Court heard his body was found badly twisted around the lamp post with his legs meeting his arms as if his back had been split in two. A jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure.

Boyd was a suspect in the murder of Michael Scott, a 25-year-old builder from Ballymun who was shot dead in front of his partner and two small children on 19 April of that year.

The family were aware he was a murder suspect in this case and that he was over the drink-drive limit when he crashed, according to his sister. "We know he was a suspect in the Michael Scott case but he was my brother and I believed him when he told me he wasn't involved.

The gardai were very insensitive the way they handled my brother's death. On Christmas Eve 2003 they called to my family home and handed my mother back his bloodstained clothes and helmet. That was very difficult for the family at that time of year."

Following consultation with their solicitor after the inquest, the Boyd family believe they have a strong enough case for a civil action against the gardai but will not pursue one.

"We're never, ever going to win against the gardai. If we had the money to fight them all the way, we would. But my mother wants to try and move on from all this and the family have some closure now that the inquest is finally over. It's been a long and painful 3-and-a-half years since my brother died."