Tipperary driver who pleaded to careless driving warned he is 'clocking up penalty points'

Nenagh Court was told that aTipperary motorist who turned back at a Garda checkpoint had no insurance

placeholder image — Nenagh Court was told that aTipperary motorist who turned back at a Garda checkpoint had no insurance

A driver who was only identified by gardaí because he admitted to driving his vehicle was fined by Judge Elizabeth MacGrath at Nenagh District court on two counts of careless driving.

Kieran Kearney of Graigue, Two-Mile Borris, admitted the offences at Rosemary Square, Roscrea, Ashmere, Roscrea, and Behaghgloss, on November 6, 2021.

He had originally been charged with dangerous driving, but Judge MacGrath accepted Mr Kearney’s plea to the lesser charges of careless driving.

The court heard that Mr Kearney had been observed at Rosemary Square by gardaí and when followed had been observed to go over to the wrong side of the road while taking a bend.

He was also observed to have slightly crossed over to the wrong side at Ashmere.

The court heard that the vehicle was found abandoned and only for Mr Kearney admitting he had been driving, the gardaí would not have been able to make a prosecution.

Judge MacGrath agreed to accept the pleas to careless driving and told Mr Kearney’s solicitor, JJ Fitzgerald, that his client’s actions were “on the cusp” but a mitigating factor was his admission.

Judge MacGrath fined Mr Kearney €250 for the offence at Rosemary Square, and a further €250 for the offence at Ashmere.

She took the offence at Behaghgloss into consideration.

“He is clocking up penalty points,” Judge MacGrath told Mr Fitzgerald.