Father-to-be disqualified from driving

Father-to-be disqualified from driving


A 19-year-old father-to-be was disqualified from driving after driving dangerously and crashing into another vehicle, a district court has heard.
Thomas Walsh of 3, Church view, Glenisland, Castlebar appeared before Castlebar District Court pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a driving licence.
The court heard that on June 26, 2014 gardaí in Castlebar received a report of a traffic accident at Monagauran, Glenisland, Castlebar involving a transit van and a Skoda Fabia.
Supt Joe McKenna said the driver of the van was coming over the brow of a hill in the direction of Glenisland and saw a car travelling at speed on the narrow road. The van pulled over to the side of the road but the car crashed into it.
Solicitor Tom Walsh said on the day in question his client and his client’s partner were travelling to Castlebar for an appointment with a principal of a national school. The couple were accompanied by Walsh’s partner’s children, an eight year old and a three year old, and the couple were running late for the appointment.
Mr Walsh and his partner had minor injuries, while there was no indication of whether Mr Walsh’s partner’s children sustained injuries.
Mr Thomas Walsh applied the brakes of the car but in the damp conditions the car skidded across the road towards the van.
On the issue of driving without a licence, the court heard Walsh, a native of Dublin, had passed his theory test, but had not gone to obtain is learner licence.
Judge Mary Devins told the court she was of the opinion that Mr Walsh’s pregnant partner should have been prosecuted also, as she allowed her uninsured, unlicensed partner to drive.
Asked to considering reducing the dangerous driving charge to careless driving, Judge Devins said she found it difficult to reduce the charge after listening to the facts.
Mr Walsh was convicted and fined €200 for dangerous driving, receiving a two year driving disqualification and the other matters were taken into consideration.