Judge refuses to reduce charge to careless driving

A JUDGE refused to reduce a dangerous driving charge to careless driving, telling the defendant the court couldn’t condone such behaviour, and he needed to be aware of the consequences of his actions. Max King (20), of Warren View, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, was before Sligo District Court charged with dangerous driving at Ardsoreen, Monasteraden, Sligo, on March 20, 2021.

Judge Michéle Finan said she was not inclined to reduce the matter because he had a novice licence, was carrying passengers and travelling at a speed which displayed a level of carelessness.

She said the court couldn’t condone such behaviour. Sergeant Adrian Keane, Ballymote Garda Station, outlined for the court how the defendant’s vehicle met another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction on a narrow road of about four metres. One witness, a passenger, described Mr King driving prior to the collision as “going way too fast anyway.”

Another passenger stated he had told him to slow down, estimating he was doing approximately 100km per hour.

A third passenger lost consciousness after the collision and said they had no recollection of the moment the vehicles collided.

He suffered injuries and initially some concern around brain injuries, but he had recovered since with some memory loss. Inspector Paul Kilcoyne furnished photos of the collision to the court.

Defending solicitor, Mr John Anderson, said his client was doing an apprentice electrician course in the UK.

He had no previous convictions and a full Irish licence. The accident occurred at speed on a country road. Liability was admitted and there was a matter going through the civil courts.

Judge Michéle Finan convicted Mr King and disqualified him from driving for a period of two years.

She said she would keep the fine low to €100 with 12 months to pay as he was an apprentice, but he needed to be aware of the consequences of his actions.