Dangerous driver may have option of community service

THE option of doing 240 hours community service instead of serving six months in prison was offered at Gorey District Court last week to defendant John Murphy, (24), of The Oil, Oylegate, after he pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, and driving without insurance at Oylegate, on August 24, 2015.

Sgt Victor Isdell told the court that another motorist, who had a four-year-old child as a passenger, was forced to take evasive action, when the defendant’s vehicle came around a bend into his path.

The motorist mounted the footpath and hit a Council sign in an attempt to avoid a more serious crash. The defendant fled the scene, but was later detained by gardaí.

He had 79 previous convictions, including nine for no insurance. He was already off the road for ten years.

Solicitor Ed King said that a substantial amount of charges were before the court in December 2015, and this offence was committed in August 2015.

‘He has had his difficulties in the past,’ he said. ‘He has served a substantial sentence for offences committed when he was 16.’ He added that since the judge gave him a suspended sentence, the defendant has improved, and he is now working.

He said that in December his client was sentenced to 17 months in prison, which was suspended for three years. This was a ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over him, he commented, asking the judge to suspend any sentence he might impose.

‘As you say, the record is appalling,’ commented Judge Haughton. He sentenced him to six months in prison on each of the charges, with an alternative of 240 hours of community service. He also disqualified him from driving for 10 years in each case.

The matter was put back to January 11 to see if he is suitable for carrying out community service.