Motorcyclist sped off on seeing Gardaí

A 20-year-old motorcyclist who sped away from Gardaí and drove dangerously as he did so, didn’t have insurance, Sligo District Court heard.

Before the court was Liam Kilcoyne of Heatherview, Ballymote Road, Tubbercurry who was charged with dangerous driving at Temple Street on March 15 th 2017 and with not having a licence or insurance. A plea was entered to the offences by defending solicitor, Mr Eamon Gallagher.

Inspector Donal Sweeney outlined how at 9.10pm Gardai observed a motorbike at Bridge Street which had a very loud exhaust. Gardaí attempted to stop the motorcyclist but he failed to do so.

He took off at sped and wa seen weaving in and out of traffic as he drove along Grattan Street and John Street. The motorcyclist stopped at Temple Street when it collided with the side of the patrol car. The Inspector agreed with Judge Kevin Kilrane that the defendant was trying to make good his escape and that the patrol car had overtaken the bike at Temple Street in order to cut him off. Mr Gallagher pleaded that the defendant did have a policy of insurance but he had change his bike three weeks before the incident but had failed to tell the insurance company. The defendant always had insurance. Mr Gallagher handed in a number of documents and said the defendant was diabetic and had received treatment for anxiety in the past.

“He realised he hadn’t changed his insurance and in a panic he took off,” said Mr Gallagher. At the moment of the collision he was slowing down to take a corner when the Gardaí pulled in front of him. There was a slight mark left on the patrol car.

Mr Gallagher said Kilcoyne was passionate about motorbikes and was his one social outlet. His provisional licence was out of date. “All of the charges follow from one moment of panic,” he said.

Judge Kilrane said motorbikes were extremely dangerous and required the utmost respect and that running from the law was “crazy stuff.” He fined Kilcoyne €700 on the insurance charge and struck out the dangerous driving offence.