A dangerous driver, who was fined and disqualified from driving for 12 months this week, was not aware that a concerned citizen had videotaped him “drifting” around a roundabout, the Galway District Court heard.
Stephen Keane (21 ) with an address at Carnmore, Oranmore, was summoned to appear at Galway District Court last Monday where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Parkmore, Galway, on August 11, 2007.
The court heard that at 2.15am a local resident had obversed the defendant driving his vehicle in the area and “drifting around a roundabout”. The defendant had been driving in such a way that the rear wheel was dangerously “spinning” faster than the front wheel, causing it to spin out onto the road. The court also heard that the defendant had no previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Noel Rhatigan explained that the defendant came to the notice of gardai after this offence occurred and had not been aware that a resident had videotaped him until October. Mr Rhatigan said that his client, who has got rid of the vehicle, was in court here with his father and was treating the matter very seriously. He added that Keane is an apprentice carpenter and is living at home.
Judge Mary Fahy warned that the court “takes a very serious view of this behaviour” which “cannot be tolerated”. However, Judge Fahy decided against imposing a custodial sentence and instead fined the defendant €500 with two months to pay and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.
