A 19-year-old man who drove up the wrong side of the road before going around a junction, still on the wrong side, in Ballyhaunis was convicted of dangerous driving in Ballyhaunis District Court this week. Prior to convicting Trevor Boyle, Larganboy, Ballyhaunis, Judge Mary Devins told the court, “I’m fascinated, I don’t think he realises what he did was dangerous driving”.
Garda Alan Ryan told the court that at 10.20pm on June 2 2009, Enda Caulfield called to the station to report Boyle for dangerous driving. He told the garda at 9.45pm that Boyle had pulled out of the swimming pool car park on Clare Street, Ballyhaunis, and driven towards the junction at the Square in the town. Boyle overtook a jeep with a trailer in his lane of traffic, but he was unable to get back into the proper lane as there was a full line of traffic going up the street, so he sped up the road on the wrong side and then turned right around the corner from the wrong lane. Garda Ryan continued, telling the court that Mr Caulfield told him that he had words with the driver when the car came back to the car park and he was met with a torrent of abuse from Boyle.
In his evidence to the court Mr Caulfield told the court that he was standing outside the fire station on the night as it was drill night for the local fire service. He then told the same story as Garda Ryan had outlined in relation to the driving. He also told the court that when he went to speak to Boyle about his driving, Boyle told him that he had a number plate on the front and back of the car and to report him to the gardaí if he wanted. Caulfield also admitted that he put his hand in the window of Boyle’s car which was open and tried to pull the keys out of the ignition, but he was unable to do so, but pulled a key fob for the alarm off the keyring, and that Boyle got out of the car after and that he gave it back to Boyle. Caulfield then told the court that he saw Boyle drive by the fire station later and blow the horn of the car and rev his engine. He also told the court that Boyle called to his house later with his father to apologise to him. Caulfield also stated that he rang the gardaí and was put through to Swinford Garda Station who told him that gardaí would be on duty in Ballyhaunis at 10pm.
Garda Ryan, giving evidence again, told the court that he met Mr Caulfield at the station at 10.20pm and spoke to him and as he was leaving the station, Boyle pulled up at the station and he spoke to Boyle, who complained to him that Caulfield had reached into his car and pulled the fob off. Garda Ryan also told the court he asked Boyle to make a statement. He also told him what Mr Caulfield had alleged he had done in regard to dangerous driving, but “he didn’t seem to think that he drove at speed or he did anything wrong and he admitted he performed the action”.
In his evidence Boyle told the court that he did drive out of the swimming pool car park and he overtook a jeep with a trailer because he thought it had pulled up as there were no lights on the trailer, and that he had to keep going up the wrong lane as he had nowhere else to go. When he went around the bend he was let back into the right lane by another car. He then continued up to a petrol station before coming back to the car park where Mr Caulfield came over to him and the two men had words.
Judge Mary Devins convicted and fined Boyle €600 and disqualified him from driving for two years. She also fixed recognisance in case of appeal.
