Van driver who collided with car in Longford 'did not see stop sign in time'

A professional driver, who failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with another vehicle on a county Longford main road, has been fined.

Sean Donnellan of 21 Woodford View, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 pleaded guilty at the local district court last week to careless driving at Legga Cross, Longford.

Sgt Enda Daly, court presenter, said the defendant drove a van drove through a stop sign and collided with a car being driven by the injured party at 7.30pm on September 11, 2024.

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"The impact of the collision caused her car to spin out of control into a steel railing, but fortunately she only sustained soft tissue injuries and she did not require hospital treatment," Sgt Daly added.

The court heard the defendant, who had four previous convictions, and his passenger did not suffer any injuries.

Defence solicitor Fiona Baxter said her client, who was covered by comprehensive insurance through his employer, was driving down a hill and the stop sign was at the bottom of that hill.

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"He had quite a heavy load in the back of his vehicle and he just did not see the stop sign in time," she said. "He is absolutely adamant that he was driving within the speed limit and the trackers on the vehicle would confirm that."

Ms Baxter stressed it was a lack of judgement by the father of one.

"He is a professional driver by occupation and he very much relies on his license," she said. "Until this year he had a full employment history in marketing, he decided to make a change and he qualified as a professional lorry driver and he has been employed by a company for the past six months."

Judge Owens convicted Donnellan and fined him €750 with six months to pay