Driver, 26, told to bring €600 to court

A young driver was told to bring €600 with him to the District Court in January to avoid a disqualification. James Stewart, with an address of Knockadoo, Coolaney, was charged with dangerous driving at Pearse Road on February 14 th 2016. Garda Kevin Donegan who was on duty at 1:20am said he saw the defendant doing a 360 degree handbrake turn at the junction or Pearse Road and Circurlar Road. When gardaí pursued the dark coloured Toyota Alteeza took off at high speed and didn’t stop at the lights at Markievicz Park, Garda Dongan said, with a car coming in the opposite direction having to swerve. The car stopped near the Sligo Park and the defendant was questioned. There were three other passengers. The defendant, represented by Mr David Walsh, told the court he thought the garda car was going to an emergency and didn’t stop at the lights because they were amber. He denied completing a handbrake turn. Judge Kilrane said he didn’t think a handbrake turn warrants dangerous driving but he was going to convict on the red light. The judge said he may reduce the charge to careless driving if he brought €600 to court and he would avoid the mandatory two year disqualification.