Driver ‘not in right frame of mind’ following crash

A DRIVER left the scene of an accident because he feared his car would be seized because he had no NCT disc, Kenmare District Court was told last week.

The man, however, rang gardaí two hours later to report his involvement in the accident at Cahir, Kilgarvan.

Peter O’Callaghan with an address at 1 Healy-Rae Park, Kilgarvan, was charged with careless driving and failing to remain at the scene of an accident on October 28, 2018.

Mr O’Callaghan drove into the rear of a Mercedes car, which was being driven by a man from West Cork, who was accompanied by his wife and children.

The damage to the car was €4,000, the court heard, and €31,000 was paid out to the injured parties from insurance as a result of the accident.

Solicitor Brendan Ahern said his client was driving too close to the other vehicle and ‘couldn’t stop’.

He said that Mr O’Callaghan has spoken to the injured party and had stayed at the scene for 10 minutes before leaving. He only left because he feared his vehicle would be seized, Mr Ahern explained.

“He made no attempt to hide his involvement. He knew the injured party had his registration, and he rang the gardaí himself,” he said.

“He was not acting in the right frame of mind.”

Mr Ahern said his client had already incurred a financial penalty on his insurance. Judge Waters convicted and fined him a total of €550: €250 for careless driving and €350 for failing to remain at the scene of the accident.