A 37-year-old, who crashed into the back of a car — in which a mother and three children were travelling — and who left the scene, was before Ballinrobe District Court on Friday.
Garda Damien Ryder outlined that he was alerted to a traffic accident at Ballycoyne on Sunday December 4 2005 at 4.40pm, where he met with Ms Catherine Burke, who had been travelling in the direction from Cong to Clonbur.
Ms Burke told the garda that while driving down a hill, she slowed down as there was a cone and a pot hole in the road, while she had slowed down Patrick Kearney, 2 Skellig Ard, Clonbur, Co Galway, who was driving behind her crashed into her and then drove off, without checking on the occupants.
Garda Ryder went to Kearney’s residence, where the defendant admitted his involvement. The defendant also failed to produce insurance.
Solicitor for the defendant, Cathy McDarby, said that the employed father of two had paid €3,800 compensation to Ms Burke for damage to the car. Ms McDarby said that Kearney “panicked” on the day which lead him to drive away, and he had no insurance as it had lapsed at the time.
The defendant told the court that he was ashamed of what happened that day and had not driven since. Kearney said that his actions were “horrendous” as “I could have killed or disabled someone.”
Kearney has previous road traffic convictions, with Judge Mary Devins commenting that the defendant has a “colourful history”.
For dangerous driving Kearney was convicted and fined €600 and disqualified from driving for two years. For failing to remain at the scene the defendant was convicted and fined €500, and for having no insurance Kearney was convicted and fined €500 and disqualified for one year concurrent.
