Collidedwith frontofhouse
A man who twice collided with the front of a house while driving a BMW has been remanded on continuing bail for a report and to pay compensation for the damage he caused.
Younis Helal (38), 91 Castletown Road, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and hit and run charges arising out of the incident which occurred on 18 September, 2019.
He also admitted public order offences from a subsequent matter when gardaí discovered him ‘ foaming at the mouth’ near his home address.
Sgt Fintan McGroder presented evidence that at 1pm on 18 September, 2019, gardaí responded to a report of a hit and run in Castle Ross.
They spoke to a resident who said the defendant had been outside their house in a white BMW. He collided with the front of the building on two occasions before leaving the scene. The front door, stone work and a bench were all damaged. There was no figure yet for the amount of damage.
When subsequently arrested, Helal had possession of a knife. He also pleaded guilty to a resultant charge.
The court also heard that on 17 December last, the accused was spotted by gardaí at the rear of a parked car on Castletown Road.
He became verbally abusive on a number of occasions, before getting increasingly aggressive. He was foaming at the mouth and unable to conduct a normal conversation.
Sgt McGroder added the defendant had one previous convictions for careless driving.
Solicitor Eleanor Kelly said her client was originally from Egypt and came to Ireland in 2006. He was married with two children.
Around this time he had been unable to travel to Egypt to see his sick mother and turned to street tablets which ‘got out of control’.
His wife had left him as a result and told him he would have to get clean. She wanted him to do rehab.
Helal was sleeping on a friend’s couch in Dublin, and had not taken as much as paracetamol since.
Ms Kelly felt probation might keep him on the straight and narrow.
Judge McKiernan put the case back to 3 March, 2021, for a report and full compensation.