Wheel lifted off the road on Laois roundabout

A mechanic whose wheel lifted off the ground while going around a roundabout at speed didn’t notice the squad car with sirens and lights following him. 

Sebasation Suchodolski,  21, of 21 Silverbrook, Mountmellick admitted careless driving at JFL Avenue, Portlaoise on April 9, 2023. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the incident occurred at 12.45am when the defendant did “multiple dangerous manoeuvres” at the Timahoe Roundabout in Portlaoise. 

He said the defendant had no previous convictions and it was fortunate that there wasn’t much traffic around. 

Judge Andrew Cody asked what “multiple dangerous manoeuvres” meant. 

“He was doing wheelies Judge,” said Sgt Kirby. 

Garda Michael Kilheeney said “the back wheel of the car lifted off the ground” at the roundabout and the man was undertaking cars on JFL avenue. 

 “His wheel lifted off the ground at the speed he was going around the roundabout,” Judge Cody noted. 

Garda Kilheeney said the defendant failed to notice the lights and sirens behind him until he was stopped at Circle K. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick explained that her client was a young man who worked as a mechanic. 

“He accepts it was silly to be doing what he was doing,” she said. 

She told the court that her client was a good hard worker. She said the Volkswagen Golf car which she said was a safe car. 

Judge Cody noted there had been lots of recent funerals for people who were driving safe cars. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had learned a lesson from the incident. 

Judge Cody fined the man €1,000 and gave him six months to pay. He didn’t impose a disqualification.