Buncrana man crossed onto the wrong side of the road, colliding with a family’s car

A Buncrana motorist who crossed onto the wrong side of the road and collided with another vehicle carrying a family has been fined €400 for careless driving at Buncrana District Court.

John Gallagher, of Magherinture, Buncrana, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving contrary to Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act arising out of a collision at Lisfannon on August 9, 2025.

Garda Sergeant Conor Mulkerns outlined the facts of the case against Mr Gallagher, a 57-year-old office worker.

He said the injured party, Mr Ryan Bradley, had been travelling with his family in a 2024-registered Skoda Kodiaq from the direction of Fahan towards Buncrana when the collision occurred.

The court heard that Mr Gallagher, who was driving a 2010 Hyundai i30, had been travelling in the opposite direction, from Buncrana towards Fahan.

As the vehicles approached one another, Mr Gallagher drifted across the centre white line and onto the incorrect side of the road, colliding with the side of Mr Bradley’s vehicle.

Sgt Mulkerns said Garda Keith Conlon happened to be travelling in the area at the time and witnessed the aftermath of the incident in his rear-view mirror.

Emergency services attended the scene, including an ambulance and paramedics, but the court heard that no one required hospital treatment following the collision.

There were minor injuries reported as a result of the crash, and the court was told that Mr Gallagher had no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Rory O’Brien described the collision as a momentary lapse in concentration rather than deliberate dangerous behaviour.

Mr O’Brien said his client had maintained a previously unblemished driving record for more than 30 years and had never previously come to Garda attention.

“It was a momentary degree of inattention,” the solicitor said.

He added that the incident occurred during what had been intended as a simple recreational drive and noted that all parties involved had thankfully escaped serious injury.

“It was a simple recreational drive and everyone was perfectly fine afterwards,” Mr O’Brien told the court.

The solicitor also said the collision had already had significant consequences for his client in terms of insurance costs and personal stress.

Mr O’Brien said the matter had been fully dealt with through insurance and that Mr Gallagher had been greatly impacted by the increase in his insurance premium since the incident.

The court heard that Mr Gallagher works in an office-based role and earns approximately €500 per week.

Judge Emile Daly convicted Mr Gallagher of careless driving and imposed a fine of €400, allowing him four months to pay.

The judge said she was exercising her discretion in relation to a first offence and decided not to impose a driving disqualification.