This article is from page 13 of the 2008-09-16 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 was under the influence of alcohol panicked when he saw a garda patrol car and hit it, a court has heard.
Gary O’Donnell (20), of Cross- roads, Thomondgate, Limerick, pleaded guilty to a number of mo- toring offences, including dangerous driving and drink driving, in Shan- non, at 3am on May 12 last.
Inspector John Galvin told Shannon District Court that gardai followed a car from Limerick and it drove dan- gerously through a roundabout at Tullyglass, Shannon, before striking an unmarked garda patrol car.
He said the driver was arrested and analysis of a specimen of breath pro- vided showed a reading of 55 mgms of alcohol per 1OOmls of breath.
O’Donnell’s solicitor said her cli- ent had been in town on the night in
question and “for no particular rea- son, he drove the car. When he saw the garda van he panicked. It was a case of blind panic.
‘He was under the influence of al- cohol.”
She said that only minor damage had been done to the patrol car. “It was a once-off thing. He will not be before the court again,” she said.
Judge Joseph Mangan disquali- fied O’Donnell from driving for two years and fined him €600.
He adjourned the case for payment of compensation of €953.62 and im- posed several bail conditions.
These included that the accused abide by a curfew, between 11pm and 6am; report to a garda station four times a week; abstain from alcohol and stay out of licensed premises.
He ordered that a probation report be carried out in advance of the next court hearing.