‘Mountjoy’ if man does not pay damages

A 20-year-old man has been warned he faces ‘a long stretch in Mountjoy’ if he doesn’t pay for damage caused to a taxi by a car he had been driving last year.

Tony Maguire, Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, was before the district court for dangerous driving, criminal damage, no insurance, no tax, no driving licence, failing to produce insurance and failing to produce an NCT cert.

He denied all the charges which arose out of an incident at Rathmullen Road on 17 November, 2017, claiming another man was driving, and this person was present to testify to that effect.

Garda Conor Boyle gave evidence that he saw a black Audi A3 make an erratic turn and he activated the blue lights on his vehicle for it to stop.

The car accelerated up Rathmullen Road, weaving in and out of traffic, and was travelling at speeds in excess of 100kph.

Gda Boyle continued he couldn’t catch the Audi, but after turning onto Marley’s Lane two men jumped out of it while the car was still in motion.

He never lost sight of the occupants. He chased the driver and arrested him. He is 100% sure Tony Maguire was the driver.

The court heard the Audi rolled down Marley’s Lane and hit a taxi.

Cross-examined by solicitor Eleanor Kelly, the officer said Karl Leddy called to the garda station to say he was the driver. He didn’t take a statement from him.

Karl Leddy told the judge he attended at the station to speak to Gda Boyle to say he was the driver and that Tom Maguire wasn’t. He (Leddy) owns the car.

A statement was taken from him and he signed it.

He added Maguire got out from the back of the car.

Ms Kelly submitted there was a doubt in the case. Karl Leddy owns the vehicle and said he was driving.

However, Judge Coughlan said he preferred the garda evidence. He convicted Tony Maguire.

Sgt Ray Brady said the defendant has six previous convictions, none for no insurance.

The solicitor added her client is unemployed and on social welfare. Recently married, he has a number of children.

Concurrent two-year disqualifications were imposed for dangerous driving and having no insurance.

The judge said he wanted €3,250 compensation paid by 15 February, 2019, for the damage caused to the taxi.

If that isn’t done, he warned Tony Maguire he will have a long stretch in Mountjoy.