A Ballina Beverages employee was convicted of dangerous driving at Ballina District Court on Tuesday after he drove his car at night-time with no lights on; failed to stop for a garda, which forced the garda to jump out of the way and then proceeded to drive the wrong way down a one way street.
On September 14 2008 at 1.10am Garda Martin McNicholas observed Steven Bumford, 4 Ridgepool Court, Church Road, Ballina “stagger” from the Courthouse Bar, walk across the road and get into his car. Bumford drove his car off, without his headlights on and Garda McNicholas stepped off the footpath onto the road to stop him. The defendant did not stop and continued on. The garda had to jump out of the way as he was afraid that he would be hit. The defendant drove a short distance down Kevin Barry Street before he turned onto Connolly Street—going the wrong way down a one way street. Garda McNicholas contacted the traffic corps jeep to see if they could locate the car. The traffic corps located the vehicle on Church Road, with no driver inside.
Garda McNicholas said that the registered owner of the car was in Enniscrone and could not be located, however on October 18 the garda recognised the defendant walking on the street and stopped him.
Bumford admitted that he was driving that night but did not make a statement. The defendant told the court that he attended a function that night in the bar where he drank shandies. He said that he saw a man with a hi-vis jacket and a torch move out in front of him, but due to poor visibility did not realise it was a garda and continued driving. The court heard how Connolly Street used to be a two-way street, and it only changed to a one way street a few week’s before the night of the incident.
Judge Mary Devins fined the 35-year-old €500 and disqualified him from driving for two years. Recognisances were fixed.
