DidU- turnat checkpoint

A driver who saw a Garda check point ahead of her collided with the car behind her when she tried to make a U- turn on the road.

Mary Maughan ( 26) of Barr na Trimoige, Kilkelly, was charged with dangerous driving at Bunnacranagh, Curry, Sligo on February 24th 2016.

Inspector Paraic Burke told Tubbercurry District Court that the defendant had pulled into the side of the road just before the accident.

He said there had been a Garda check point up ahead.

He said Maughan attempted to do a U- turn and collided with the car behind her when they couldn’t avoid her car.

Defence solicitor Ms Laura Spellman said her client had wanted to pull into the right hand side of the road where there was more space to meet a friend.

Maughen pleaded guilty to the charge of dangerous driving but Ms Spellman asked Judge Kilrane if he would consider reducing the charge to one of careless driving.

She said Maughan was a mother to three young children, two of whom attended hospital regularly and handed in a letter from a doctor confirming this.

Inspector Burke said there was a suspicion that there was green diesel in the car at the time and that may have been the reason why Maughan did the U- turn.

Judge Kilrane adjourned the case to April 26th and said if Maughan had her licence in court with her that day he would reduce the charge to one of careless driving and fine her ¤ 300. he was quite close to.

“He just went through a very bad time. He was in a bad place. The incident occurred around 11.30am. He was at a house party the night before and alcohol was consumed. He drove his friend’s car because his friend was over the limit even more,” said Mr Gallagher.

Judge Kilrane then convicted Moriarty on all charges.

However, Mr Gallagher continued his case.

He said Moriarty had been working in New Zealand for the past 13 months and had gotten married out there on February 18th before his return to Ireland for the court case.

He said his client was in the course of applying for a work visa for New Zealand and said a conviction here would have an effect on that application.

“Surely you’re not asking me to deal with a Section 4 ( drink driving) offence without a conviction?” asked an incredulous Judge Kilrane.

He offered to adjourn the case until Moriarty was back in New Zealand and deal with the matter in his absence.

However Mr Gallagher pointed out that “any matter pending” would also affect his visa application.

Judge Kilrane said he couldn’t deal with the drink driving matter short of a conviction. “I can’t understand how a Road Traffic conviction would be so detrimental to a visa,” he told Mr Gallagher.

Mr Gallagher said both Moriarty and his wife were in full time employment and had engaged lawyers in New Zealand to help them.

He asked if there was any way to limit matters. “I don’t like this,” said Judge Kilrane. “There’s an aspect of people buying their way out of difficulty. He’s no driver’s licence, no insurance, he’s above the legal limit, not massively but all these are serious matters,” he told the court.

Mr Gallagher accepted this and said the incident was a once- off: “He was an absolute idiot. It was a moment of madness.”

Judge Kilrane agreed to raise the drink driving fine to ¤ 500 and strike out the rest of the charges but added that he didn’t like it. He also disqualified Moriarty from driving for one year.