Motorist who overtook ambulance at speed accepts behaviour was ‘appalling’

A man who overtook an ambulance at speed ‘didn’t know what possessed him’, his barrister told Wicklow District Court last Tuesday.

Killian McCabe (20), 13 Dargle Heights, Bray, appeared before the court where he admitted dangerous driving on the N11 northbound at Ballycarney, Wicklow, on April 16, 2017.

The court heard that at 3.30 a.m. gardaí received a call while on mobile patrol.

The court heart that an ambulance was enroute to Wicklow when the accused came up behind them at speed with his headlights on full beam. He overtook at speed, took the exit, then came back down onto the N11 in front of the ambulance and was recording the ambulance on his mobile while driving. This was all captured on the amublance camera.

Gardaí then saw the vehicle in Wicklow town and stopped and spoke to the driver. Inspector Brian O’Keeffe said that this was bizarre and dangerous behaviour.

Barrister Shannon Biondi said that her client believed at the time that the ambulance had cut him off and that this led to a bit of road rage on his part. He decided to overtake and film the ambulance, as he believed they were doing something to him as a driver.

‘He isn’t trying to use this as an excuse,’ said Ms Biondi. ‘He accepts that his behaviour was appalling and unacceptable.’ She produced a letter for the judge which the defendant had written.

Ms Biondi said that her client left school very early and is a hard-working young man who presently has a part-time job as a security man. He has never come to the attention of the court in the past and this incident was out of character, she said.

Judge Kennedy said ‘it just sounds extraordinary’.

‘He himself doesn’t know what possessed him,’ said Ms Biondi.

Inspector O’Keeffe said that there was no question of drink or drugs on the night in question.

Judge Kennedy said that he would adjourn the matter for one year. He asked that the defendant pay the sum of €1,000 to the court poor box and undertake some voluntary charitable work. The matter was adjourned to April 9, 2019.