This article is from page 18 of the 2008-01-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
A DRIVER who failed to remain at the scene of a road accident has been banned from driving for five years and warned he will face jail if he fails to pay compensation.
Ennis District Court heard that De- clan O’Dea was involved in a crash close to Francie Daly’s garage in Ennis, on October 17, 2006, during which €1,500 worth of damage was caused to another vehicle.
O’Dea, of Hazelwood, Ennis, who
was driving a car, was ‘eventually lo- cated’, the court was told.
JS CSBUIDLSE-VO MAC CoreN(eOm POO) A(cre eles slmm alone later admitted his role in the incident. He pleaded guilty to a number of charges arising out of the accident.
Inspector John Galvin told the court that on March 30, 2007, the accused “admitted it was him when there was evidence put to him by the gardai”.
Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client lost his job in Septem- ber 2007. Otherwise, he would have
paid compensation, he said.
Judge Joseph Mangan said _ to O’Dea, “You were working for al- most a year after this and you haven’t paid a penny compensation.”
He noted that the accused did not admit his role in the accident for sev- eral months, adding, “You dragged this out. You behaved dishonestly on the night.”
“I am giving you a month to pay that (€1,500) and you are going to prison if you don’t come up with it,” added the judge.
He banned O’Dea from driving for five years and fined him €1,600 for failing to keep his vehicle at the scene and failing to stop.
He imposed a two-month jail term for failing to produce appropriate in- formation to gardai, but substituted this with community service.
He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal, of his own surety of €6,000; €4,000 of which was to be lodged to the court.
He adjourned the case for payment of compensation.