Driver on hospital mercy mission in court
A driver who embarked on a mercy mission to bring a man to Naas Hospital avoided a conviction after he was caught speeding.
Colm Lawlor, 54, whose address was given as Hacketstown Road, Bennekerry, Carlow, was prosecuted at Naas District Court for dangerous driving on the M9 at Blackrath, Kilcullen, on 16 April 2018.
Garda Alwyn Howard said he was conducting a speed checkpoint when he detected a black Audi car driving at 167 in a 100 km/h zone.
He told the court the defendant had a passenger and he said he was bringing this man to hospital because he had pains in his chest.
Gda Howard said that the passenger “didn’t seem to be too bad.”
The guard also said that the road was not overly busy at the time and “I wasn’t going to stop him from going to hospital.” He also asked for evidence of the reason for going to hospital.
A letter confirming that the man was treated at Haas Hospital was handed into court.
Defending solicitor Tim Kennelly said that the journey was necessary and added the defendant had no previous convictions. The defendant said his passenger was the owner of a garage which he called into. The man was there on his own and he was in an agitated state and said he was having palpitations.
The defendant said he suggested calling an ambulance but the man asked him “please can we go now to hospital.” The defendant said the man was known to him.
Judge Michele Finan reduced the case to one of careless driving and indicated that the case would be struck out if the defendant made a charitable donation of €600.