Driver’s dangerous driving was captured on Garda’s own dashcam
A 24 year old rally fan who did ‘ donuts’ on the main Sligo to Ballina road in the early hours of the morning and subsequently switched off his lights has been fined and banned at Sligo District Court.
Colin Greer, Hazelwood, Sligo was charged with four counts of dangerous driving on March 6th last year.
Inspector Donal Sweeney said Garda Brendan Donegan was in his own car at 1.15am when he observed a driver performing ‘ donuts’ on the main Sligo to Ballina Road.
The drove off at speed in the direction of Dromore West and was followed by the Garda. The driver then did a u- turn and drove in the direction of Sligo.
The car turned off the main road and the driver turned off its lights. The Garda decided it was too dangerous to follow and in any event he had recorded the incident on a dash cam and was satisfied as to the identity of the driver.
The Inspector told Judge Kevin Kilrane that he was prepared to accept a plea to one count of dangerous driving.
This was in relation to the switching off of the lights at Grangebeg, Skreen.
Mr Ciaran White, solicitor ( defending) said the defendant, who was a machine operator, was remorseful.
He had been travelling from a car rally in Mayo at the time and it may have been a case of adrenaline taking over.
The defendant wasn’t aware that a Garda had been following him. The whole episode has been very stressful for the defendant who came from an upstanding family, said Mr White.
He added that since the incident, the defendant had distanced himself from the rally scene. Judge Kilrane said the manner of the defendant’s driving on the night was outrageous.
“Driving with the lights off is a very serious thing to do,” he said. The Judge fined the defendant € 400 and banned him from driving for two years for dangerous driving at Grangebeg. The other three counts of dangerous driving were struck out.
Upon Mr White’s application, the Judge agreed to postpone the commencement of the driving ban to May 1st next.