A mushroom factory worker who, when overtaking a car on a bend in snowy conditions, hit the side of it, causing damage, was disqualified for dangerous driving at Belmullet District Court on Wednesday.
Mr Eamon Carey told the court that on December 13 2008 at 8pm, while driving to Belmullet, a Maroon Nissan Almera overtook him on a bend in Tallagh. The car was tipped and the wing mirror of his car was pushed forward.
Mr Carey said that he flashed his headlights at the car and later saw the car stop in Belmullet. Mr Carey spoke with the driver, Daniel Seiler, Tallagh Road, Belmullet, who, according to Mr Carey, did not have English.
Seiler got back into his car, but his car failed to start. Mr Carey went to the garda station and reported the matter. Garda Liam O’Riordan spoke with the driver, who had no insurance. Seiler told the garda that the car slipped on the snow as it overtook Mr Carey.
Seiler failed to appear at the garda station when asked to make a statement. Garda O’Riordan went to the mushroom factory where the defendant worked and he told the garda that his insurance was out of date; Seiler and again failed to meet the garda later that day. The estimate of damage caused to the car was €1,977.
The defendant, who has no previous convictions and was neither in court nor represented, was convicted and fined €1,000 by Judge Mary Devins for dangerous driving; ordered to pay €500 as part compensation to Mr Carey and disqualified from driving for two years. For failing to stop after the accident Seiler was convicted and fined €500 and disqualified for two years to run concurrently. For not having insurance the defendant was convicted and fined €1,000 and disqualified for one year to run concurrently . Seiler was also convicted and fined a total of €300 for not producing insurance and for not having tax.
