A Tuam man who crashed into a wall and removed the number plates of the vehicle which he abandoned and then fled the scene was fined €900 and disqualified for a year when he appeared at Galway District Court on Monday.
Martin Forde (24 ) with an address at Laraghmore, Ballyglunin, Tuam, was summoned to appear before Judge Mary Fahy and pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and failing to give on demand the appropriate information at Carnmore on February 23, 2010, contrary to Section 52 and Section 106 of the Road Traffic Act.
Inspector Ernie White told the court that at 3.15am a single vehicle accident occurred at Carnmore and gardai received a call to go to the scene. However, when gardai arrived the driver of the vehicle was nowhere to be seen and the number plates had been removed. The van was seized and gardai managed to locate and apprehend the defendant a short time later. When questioned Forde admitted crashing into the wall and leaving the scene. The inspector added that Forde has two previous convictions for public order offences.
Defence solicitor Adrian McLynn said that his client had been out with his girlfriend earlier that night and had been on his way home to Ballyglunin as the sheep on his parents’ farm were lambing. When the crash happened Forde contacted his girlfriend and had to get himself to A&E. Mr McLynn added that Forde accepts he took the number plates off the vehicle and that the damage to the wall has been paid for by the insurance company.
“There was a reason for him not to stop and in taking off the plates,” said Judge Fahy.
Mr McLynn replied that Forde’s actions had been “somewhat stupid”. He added that Forde is currently unemployed but works on his family farm.
For driving without due care and attention Judge Fahy fined Forde €400 with six months to pay and for the remaining charge he was further fined €500 with six months to pay and disqualified from driving for 12 months. Leave to appeal was granted.
