Hit and run case dismissed

A MOTORIST involved a tip at a supermarket car park successfully defended him against hit and run charges.

The case against Peter Dowie, Coach House, Wygram Place, Wexford, arose after an accident in the grounds of Tesco on August 6 last.

Gardaí investigated a report that a Mazda he was driving hit the driver’s door of a Ford Fiesta on the evening in question. They were alerted to the incident by Paul Bailie from Kevin Barry Street, who noted the registration number of the blue Mazda before it drove off.

It turned out that the Fiesta belonged to Sean McKeown from Rathcoole in County Dublin.

The matter was taken up by Garda Brian Gallagher, who discovered that the registered owner of the Mazda was Athol

Henwick from Fairhaven in Glynn.

When contacted, Mr Henwick confirmed that the car was indeed his but stated that he had given permission for it to be driven by Peter Dowie.

The hit and run prosecution was initiated in due course but, in court, it emerged that Mr Dowie had not simply driven away and then ignored the matter.

He had attended the garda barracks later the same night and he produced his insurance documents to a different garda, said solicitor Nigel Allen.

Garda Gallagher was not aware of this. The judge was also assured that Mr McKeown was not out of pocket as a result of the collision.

Accordingly, Judge Brian O’Shea felt that it would be unsafe to record a conviction and he dismissed the matter.