Denied he was driving car but isn’t believed

A man who was charged with two counts of dangerous driving but denied he was the driver was told by Judge Kevin Kilrane that he believed the prosecuting garda’s evidence in the case at Sligo District Court. David Moran of Calry Court, Stephen Street, claimed it was not him driving on January 4 th 2017 at Stephen Street and Holborn Hill but instead a Mr Christopher Clancy was. The case had been previously adjourned to hear from both the defendant’s mother and his estranged wife, Ms Maria McCabe who was a passenger in the car and also denied he was driving.

Garda Martin Kelly who was on patrol on his bicycle said he saw Moran driving into Stephen Street car-park and also leaving it after he put his hand up for the car to stop which it failed to do so. The judge said Ms McCabe was confused in her evidence as she said the car had gone into the Stephen St car-park for a considerable period of time as she was getting clothes in an apartment. However, he said it didn’t fit in with Garda Kelly’s evidence and also CCTV which showed the proceedings were extremely short. He said Garda Kelly had no reason to blame Moran as being the driver and said Ms McCabe was not a reliable witness as she was confused about what had happened. She claimed they had walked from the apartment to where the car was later hidden, while Moran said they took a taxi. They then travelled to the North that night where they were stopped by the PSNI.

Judge Kilrane said it was clear the evidence from Garda Kelly was rock solid as he was certain he saw Moran driving the car not once but twice. He convicted Moran, who is currently serving a prison sentence, on one count of dangerous driving sentencing him to four months in prison and disqualifying him for six years while the second count was taken into consideration.