Louth man sentenced for dangerous driving
A 34 year old man who was convicted in his absence last month of dangerous driving, is awaiting a liver transplant and had been taken to hospital on the previous court date, Dundalk District Court was told last week.
John Rogers of Carnalogue, Louth Village was prosecuted for dangerous driving at Rassan, Shelagh, Annaghvackeyy, Tavnamore and Ballybinaby on April 6th last year and was also summoned for driving without insurance or a driving licence on the same date.
He had failed to attend a contested hearing of the case last month and it proceeded in his absence.
A garda gave evidence of being on mobile patrol at Rassan around 8.16pm when he first saw the defendant, who took off at high speed on the N53 and reached a speed of 150 kph before he turned left at Annaghvackey and crossed the border.
Roughly 25 minutes later he saw the car parked in a shed at the rear of the defendant's property, which he said John Rogers denied ownership of.
After hearing the accused had 35 previous convictions, Judge Eirinn McKiernan issued a bench warrant for sentencing.
Last Wednesday, the defence solicitor explained that there had been a mix up over dates, and on the last court date her client had been taken by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital.
She added he has Stage 4 Cirrhosis of the liver and kidney and is on a transplant waiting list, but the solicitor said it would take some time to request the hospital for a release of her client's medical records.
However, Judge McKiernan pointed out the bench warrant had been issued on November 23rd adding 'Surely he would have evidence in court'.
The solicitor added her client suffers from hallucinations and his brother committed suicide in Cloverhill prison a number of years ago which had a devastating impact on his family.
Judge McKiernan said he has a serious record and had left and crossed the border.
She imposed a four month sentence for one of the dangerous driving charges and a four year driving ban, and marked the rest taken into consideration.
An appeal was subsequently lodged.