Driver arrested after crash

A driver arrested for drunk driving was and who was involved in a crash had been acting as a Good Samaritan, Sligo District Court was told.

Summoned for drunk driving at Creevymore, Cliffoney on July 5 th 2017 was Thomas Carmody (38) of 8 McDermott Terrace, Manorhamilton.

Mr Mark Mullaney, solicitor (defending) pleaded that the defendant was acting as a Good Samaritan on the evening when bringing a female friend who was in a distressed state to hospital. There was an accident and a sample showed a reading of 91mgs of alcohol per 100mls of urine. The defendant was a learner driver at the time and no longer had a car, said Mr Mullaney.

Carmody, a father of five, had two previous convictions for not having insurance and in 2011 he got a five year suspended term in relation to an extortion offence, said Inspector Donal Sweeney. Judge Kevin Kilrane fined the defendant €200 and banned him from driving for three years.

At the same court, Nora Ward (43), 1 Glenview Park, Ash Lane was fined €200 and banned from driving for two years for not having insurance at Lake Isle Road on December 21st 2017. The court was told that there were two children seated in the rear of the Ford Transit van she was driving unrestrained. There were no seats in the cargo area, said Inspector Donal Sweeney. Ms Laura Spellman, solicitor (defending) pleaded there had been a feud and the children were walking to school and saw the other family involved at the corner and felt they could not walk past so rang their mother who drove down in the van to ensure the safety of her children.

“It was unusual circumstances,” pleaded Ms Spellman.

Judge Kilrane fined the defendant an additional €100.

Also at the District Court, Sasha McDonagh, 27 Cranmore Place and now said to be living in Spain, was fined €200 for not having tax on his car on October 3rd 2017 at Pearse Road. The tax was out since June 2017.