Man charged with a series of driving offences remanded

A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today charged with a series of driving offences.

Anthony Coyle (34) of Mullenan Road in Derry appeared charged with driving while unfit on January 20, driving with no insurance or licence, aggravated vehicle taking and failing to stop or remain after an accident.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. 

He told the court that police attended a report of a vehicle crashing on the Culmore Road in the city. 

They observed a vehicle with 'severe damage' and there was debris on the road and on a roundabout.

A witness told police that the crashed vehicle had been tailgating his vehicle before overtaking and making off at speed. 

He said he came across the crashed vehicle and had to drive over some of the debris damaging his own vehicle. 

The witness said he saw the defendant exit from the driver's side and said he had offered him money for the damage to his vehicle before making off.

Another witness described the man exiting the driver's seat and the description matched the defendant. 

This witness said that two other people got out of the crashed vehicle and emptied glasses. 

The defendant was stopped on the Culmore Road and when asked was he driving he answered 'I suppose I should tell you yes'.

A breath test revealed a reading below the legal limit but the defendant was said to have refused a blood test. 

Checks of the vehicle revealed that the registered owner had no knowledge of the vehicle. 

A police officer said Coyle was 'abusive' throughout the interview making no comment or saying 'none of your business.'

Bail was opposed due to the risk of re-offending with the defendant having 32 previous convictions many of them for driving. 

The officer said that police had no confidence that Coyle would stop driving and added that 'the publc are at clear risk from this man'.

He also said that there were outstanding warrants against Coyle saying back to 2021.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client denied the offences. 

He said that the reason for the delay in the warrants was because Coyle was working in Dublin but had returned to the city every weekend. 

He said his client had not tried to flee and if bailed would turn up for his trial. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said he had no confidence Coyle would stay in the jurisdiction. 

He said the defendant was 'clearly a risk to other road users and pedestrians' and refused bail.

Coyle was remanded in custody to appear again on February 15.