Motorist involved in two collisions was not insured to drive

THE poor driving of John Leacy (59) from Tomanoole, Ballycarney was reviewed as he faced careless and dangerous driving prosecutions at the District Court in Gorey.

The court learned that the unemployed construction worker had twice borrowed the Citroen Berlingo van belonging to his son without permission, while the son was in Australia.

Garda Martin Kavanagh observed him emerging from a side road in Ballindaggin without stopping on night in February of 2015.

Five months later, the same motorist pulled out on to the N80 and caused a collision which put him in hospital after he was thrown from the Berlingo.

The other driver involved in the crash was left with whiplash.

He had no insurance on either occasion and a previous conviction for driving without cover showed up on his record.

Solicitor Ed King said his client was father of five and that he suffering from ill health, including high blood pressure.

For the incident at Ballindaggin, the defendant was convicted of careless driving and driving without insurance, earning €800 in fines and a two year driving ban.

The accident on the N80 led to a suspended five month prison sentence for dangerous driving and for being again on the road without insurance cover.

These convictions came with a four year ban from holding a licence.

Judge Gerard Haughton observed that Leacy seemed to have a difficulty with coming out from minor roads safely.

Mr King reckoned there was no chance of Leacy ever driving again.

Just in case, Judge Haughton ruled that if he seeks in future to return to the road, he must first take out a learner permit with a view to proving his competence.