Ban for man who crashed in Glenties while driving too fast for hail and sleet

A 36-year-old man who crashed into a hedge in Glenties has been disqualified from holding a licence for two years.

The case of Maurice Boyle of 57 Hill House, Loughanure, was before Glenties District Court on Wednesday, April 23. The court heard that he admitted driving without due care and attention at Gortnamucklagh, Glenties on December 26, 2022. The offence is contrary to Sec 52(1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (as substituted by section 4 of the Road Traffic (No 2) Act 2011). 

Boyle also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and failing to produce insurance on the same occasion.

Inspector Mick Doherty told the court that on December 12, 2022 at 10.37am, gardaí responded to a single vehicle road traffic collision.

“A black Volkswagen Touareg was in the hedge on the left side of the road,” he said. 

“Gardaí spoke to the driver who identified himself as Maurice Boyle. He failed to nominate a garda station to produce insurance.”

The inspector said that during the investigation, CCTV was downloaded which led to the driver being charged with driving without due care and attention.

“He was driving too fast for the conditions, with a fall of hail and sleet preceding the road traffic collision,” said Inspector Doherty. “The driving was careless in relation to that.”

Details of previous convictions were handed to Judge Éiteáin Cunningham.

“There are quite a number, including dangerous driving reduced to careless driving,” she said.

Barrister Simon Gillespie on behalf of solicitor Rory O’Brien said that the defendant wished to say that he was very sorry. 

“He is a married man who resides abroad and is looking to put the matter behind him,” said Mr Gillespie. The barrister added that the previous convictions were all going back some time.

Judge Cunningham said: “I really would struggle with not imposing a conviction given the history. They are somewhat historic and the court does have a discretion but they are relevant and the most recent is 2020.”

The judge imposed fines of €150 and a two-year driving ban on each of the charges of driving without due care and attention and driving without insurance. The charge of failing to produce insurance was taken into consideration in the convictions. 

Recognisance was fixed at a bond of €300 in the event of an appeal being lodged.