Man ran into a field after crashing and refused to give Gardaí name of driver

A man who ran into a field after a car crash and didn’t identify the driver of the car has been convicted and fined ¤500.

Michael Feeney (25) of Roslea, Easkey was charged with failing to give information at Ballyara, Tubbercurry on 11 th January 2016.

Inspector Paraic Burke told Judge Deirdre Gearty at Tubbercurry District Court that Gardaí responded to an accident at Ballyara and found the defendant in a nearby field while the car was on the road.

The court heard Feeney admitted to Gardaí he was the owner of the car but someone else had been driving it. He was later charged with failing to identify the driver of his car. Inspector Paraic Burke told Judge Gearty that Feeney had previous convictions for Road Traffic Offences dating from 2015 and 2016.

Defence solicitor Mr John Anderson told the court that the men were lucky they weren’t injured in the incident.

“He apologises for not giving the identity of the driver,” he said. He said Feeney was a young man, working full-time in Tubbercurry and needed his licence as he also did some part time farming.

“He’s stressed hugely about this case. He is apologetic,” said Mr Anderson.

“His behaviour on the night was anything but praiseworthy,” said Judge Gearty.

“It showed a lack of insight. They were very lucky, but protecting his friend...it’s a matter for himself,” she said, convicting Feeney and fining him ¤500.

“He’s the very man that would be expecting the Gardaí to come out if he was in trouble himself. I really get cross at that kind of thing. Go,” she said.