This article is from page 13 of the 2007-07-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
A MOTORIST who knocked down an athlete and then fled the scene has been jailed for four months and banned from driving for 10 years.
Declan McMahon (41), of Cappa Lodge, Sixmilebridge, was convict- ed of failing to stop his jeep, remain at the scene or report the matter to the gardai.
Shannon District Court heard that David Chaplin was out running on the main road between Shannon and Sixmilebridge at 10pm on October ope a
He was wearing a fluorescent jacket and was jogging towards home when a jeep came from behind, crossed over the incorrect side of the road and struck him, at Springfield. He was hit by the driver’s wing mirror.
An off duty garda was travelling behind the accused and saw what
happened. Sergeant Con Ryan said he seized the accused’s jeep the fol- lowing day.
In a statement subsequently made to gardai, the accused said, “I was suddenly on top of him. I heard a bang, slowed down, then panicked and drove home.”
He said that Mr Chaplin was “‘for- tunate enough. He is a very fit man. It could have been a lot worse.”
The court was told that the accused had two previous convictions for drunk driving but was not disquali- fied at the time of these offences. De- fending solicitor John Casey said his client “panicked and he went blank. He apologises to Mr Chaplin. He should have stopped, he didn’t stop.”
‘He had a few seconds. Unfor- tunately Mr McMahon chose the wrong option,’ he said.
Judge Joseph Mangan fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.