An area manager for Tesco who crashed on his way home from Sligo to Tuam was convicted of careless driving in Claremorris District Court this week.
Garda Colin Murrin told the court that he was called to the scene of an accident on the N17 at Ballinphuill, Knock, on March 16 2009 at 6.30pm. Denis McCarthy, Cloonfush, Tuam, Co Galway, had crashed into the back of a car which had stopped in his lane, looking to turn right across the carriageway onto a side road. McCarthy caught the other car with a glancing blow which caused it to be pushed across the carriageway, while McCarthy’s own car spun onto the opposite lane and collided with another car. The court was told that the drivers of all three cars were removed for hospital treatment but none was seriously injured. McCarthy pleaded guilty to the careless driving charge and to having a bald tyre which was discovered when the three cars were inspected by the gardaí.
“But for the grace of God or whatever you believe in there weren’t people killed or seriously injured,” Judge Mary Devins said. “This is a very difficult decision for a district court judge to make.” Judge Devins convicted and fined McCarthy with careless driving rather than dangerous driving and fined him €500 and convicted and fined him €75 for the bald tyre.
