This article is from page 12 of the 2008-08-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
A MAN who did not remember driving without insurance because he was under the influence of drugs could have killed someone, a judge remarked yesterday.
Gerard Delaney (22), of Inis Ealga, Shannon, was stopped by gardai driving without insurance, twice – at Inis Ealga Shannon on April 16, 2007 and at Finian Park, Shannon, on May 25, 2007.
He also pleaded guilty to assault- ing Adrian Gilligan, at Supermac’s restaurant, Shannon, in the early hours of March 18, 2007.
Inspector Tom Kennedy told En- nis District Court yesterday that Mr Gilligan was headbutted into the side of the head by the accused. He sustained a wound over the fore- head, as a result. He said it appeared that the taxi driver had got caught in the cross-fire of an incident.
Defending solicitor Caitriona Car-
mody said her client’s problems stemmed from a Serious addiction to drugs and said he hailed from a very difficult background.
‘At times he does things he can’t remember why he did them. He’s on a methadone programme at the mo- ment. He’s determined to deal with these problems,” she said.
Referring to the road traffic mat- ters, she said he did not remember the incidents mainly because of his problem with drugs.
Judge Leo Malone remarked, “You are saying he doesn’t remember the road traffic offences because he was under the influence of drugs. Sure he could have killed somebody.”
He imposed a three-month sen- tence for the assault, and suspended it on condition that Delaney pay €1,000 compensation to the injured party. He imposed fines totalling €1,500 for the motoring offences and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.