Driver rear ended car in Laois and fled the scene

A man who rear ended a car and then fled the scene was identified because a passenger took a picture of his registration. 

Karol Pogany (62) of 97 Carmody Way, Fairgreen, Portlaoise was accused of three counts of dangerous driving and three counts of hit and run in relation to his driving on July 15, 2022. 

The dangerous driving was recorded at the Mountrath Road, Boughlone and on the R445 Clonboyne. The hit and run was at Boughlone and included failing to remain at the scene, failing to provide information and failing to report a collision. 

Witness Craig Doheny gave evidence of driving from Mountrath to Portlaoise on the date in question. He said he first noticed a black car behind him at Mighty Mols on his way home from Mountrath where his children hurl. 

He said at the Clonkeen Roundabout the driver came right up behind him again. Then at the roundabout at Boughlone when he hit the brakes, he said the driver crashed into the back of his car. 

He said the driver got out and said “you effing braked too quick” and then “he got back into the car and spun the wheels”. 

Mr Doheny said he had to jump out of the way and the car drove the wrong way around the roundabout before making off. He said it was a black Mercedes and his son managed to get a picture of the registration. He identified the driver as the defendant who was in court. 

“His friend who was sitting in the passenger’s seat gave me the finger as he drove off,” said Mr Doheny.  The damage to his car was estimated to be between €2,000 and €3,000. The defendant’s insurance paid for the damage. 

Mr Doheny said the car had been behind him on the 12 km drive from Mountrath and it had gotten very close.   “I said to my son I think we are going to get hit here,” he recalled. He reported the incident  within five minutes of being hit.  

Under cross examination from a barrister for the accused, Mr Doheny was asked how he could be sure it was the same car that had been in Mountrath.  He said “I could see the person in my mirror. He was that close to me.” 

Garda Lisa Murray responded to a call about a car driving from Mountrath towards Portlaoise.  She attended 97 Carmody Way and the defendant’s car was parked outside. 

She said the defendant was present with another male and a female. 

“Mr Pogany stated that his ex wife was driving,” she said. 

The man told her he hadn’t been driving as he had been drinking. 

“He failed to provide his ex wife’s details,” she said. 

She noticed damage to the light of the car, the grill and the bonnet. She informed the defendant that she would be seizing the car as she suspected it had been involved in a collision. 

“He was irate and very abusive towards myself and my colleagues,” she said. 

She said the man attended Portlaoise Garda Station and made a voluntary statement on July 22, 2022. He told gardaí he had been involved in a collision and had exited his car. 

She read the statement where he admitted driving towards a roundabout and hitting a white Audi  car. He said he got out of the car but doesn’t speak much English and he went home. 

“I do regret my actions on this evening,” he told gardaí. 

Counsel for the accused said her client doesn’t accept that he was driving dangerously on the day. Garda Murray confirmed the man’s insurance and tax were in order. 

She argued that the prosecution couldn’t be sure that her client's car was the same vehicle that was behind the injured party from Mountrath. She said the witness had admitted he “slammed on” the brakes at the roundabout. 

“He didn’t use the words slammed on,” said Judge Andrew Cody. 

“This was somebody who was up the exhaust pipe of Mr Doheny for 12 kilometres,” he said. 

“He could identify the driver, he was so close,” he said. 

“He knew he was involved in the accident and he left the scene,” Judge Cody remarked. 

He said the man had lied to gardaí about his ex wife. 

The barrister said her client was on disability allowance and suffers from back and knee injuries.  

“I have been asked to offer an apology to the court,” she said. 

Judge Cody said “an apology after conviction is a bit self serving.” 

He convicted the man, fined him a total of €2,400 and disqualified him from driving for four years. Judge Cody gave the man 12 months to pay and he fixed recognisance in case of appeal.