Laois court told how lorry driver crashed into Portlaoise bridge

A lorry driver has been fined for crashing into a railway bridge in Portlaoise. 

Michael Vanhorn, 39, of Inch, Blackwater, Co Wexford appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

He was initially charged with dangerous driving at Coote Street in Portlaoise on December 15 last.  

However, on hearing the details and the early guilty plea, Judge Andrew Cody agreed to reduce the charge to careless driving. 

Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant had been driving a white Iveco articulated lorry that struck a bridge at Coote Street in Portlaoise at 4.05pm on the date in question. 

Sgt Kirby said the man told gardai he was following a sat nav device which didn’t indicate the height of the bridge. He said the man, who has no previous convictions, was driving slowly and the damage was minimal.

Judge Andrew Cody asked the man how long he had been driving lorries. “I will be a year in February,” the defendant replied. 

Accepting a careless driving charge in place of dangerous driving, Judge Cody said that as there was an early plea and there are no previous convictions he would fine the man €300, allow him three months to pay and not impose a disqualification.