This article is from page 6 of the 2013-12-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A DISTANT RELATIVE of US President Barrack Obama has been told to pay € 500 to the court poor box after he pleaded guilty to careless driving near Ennis last year.
Moneygall man Henry Healy (29) was involved in a crash when he momentarily lost control of his car at Shraheen, Clooney at around 7pm on May 8, 2013, Ennis District Court heard on Wednesday.
Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court Mr Healy was driving towards Tulla when his car veered across the line of traffic and into the side of an incoming car. Insp Kennedy said, “The two cars didn’t hit head on, they hit sideways and there was a collision.” Garda Brian O’Callaghan told the court he responded to a 999 emergency call about the accident on the night. He said Mr Healy’s car “travelled quite a distance down the road on impact”.
Garda O’Callaghan said the female victim knew there was going to be an impact and braced herself for it. “I was subsequently speaking to Mr Healy. He has no recollection of it”, added Garda O’Callaghan
Mr Healy, with an address at Moneygall, Offaly, and the female occupant of the other vehicle were both hospitalized but their injuries were not serious, the court heard.
Garda O’Callaghan said, “He wasn’t speeding. He momentarily lost control before impact.”
Addressing Judge Patrick Durcan solicitor Michael Collins said his client had never been in trouble before. “I am hoping that we can come out of here today without anything on our record,” he added. Mr Collins said Mr Healy had a momentary lapse on “what I believe is a notorious stretch of road.” Mr Collins said Mr Healy is involved in tourism development and his job requires him to be constantly on the road.
Judge Durcan remarked that Mr Healy is from an “internationally recognized part of Ireland.” Mr Healy is the eighth cousin of US President Barrack Obama. He has visited the White House and accompanied Mr Obama on his historic visit to his ancestral home of Moneygall in May 2011.
Judge Durcan said: “This is a man of 29 years of age, he has an impeccable record in terms of road traffic and he has some record of service to the State,” he added.
Judge Durcan said that if Mr Healy paid € 500 to the court poor box he would strike out the charge. The money was paid into court.