Longford Driver pleads guilty after crashing and leaving the scene

A motorist, who was not used to driving automatic vehicles and panicked after she collided with a parked car and left the scene, has avoided a disqualification.

Nicola Garry (24) of 21 Abhainn Glas, Edgeworthstown pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to remain at the scene of the collision in the Edgeworthstown area on January 28, 2024.

Sergeant Mark Mahon said the defendant crashed into the parked car shortly after 12-midnight.

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Ms Garry did not stop or report the incident to "Gardaí and instead she kept driving.

"Gardaí were at the scene within minutes and conducted a search for the vehicle but it could not be located," the court presenter added.

Sergeant Mahon said the following morning Gardaí located the vehicle on a laneway in the Edgeworthstown area.

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Sergeant Mahon said the defendant was fully cooperative and she admitted she had been driving.

Ms Garry had no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Diarmuid Quinn stated his client had purchased the car the previous day on Done Deal and she had difficulties driving it.

"It was an automatic car which she had never driven before. She was pulling into the estate and she accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake and she collided with the parked car," he said. "She essentially just panicked, she had never been in a situation like this before."

Mr Quinn stated his client attended Edgeworthstown Garda Station the following morning, but it was closed.

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"She did contact the guards eventually and they were going to phone her back, but she did take steps to report the incident albeit afterwards," he added.

Mr Quinn said his client is a single mother of two twin one year old girls and her licence is important.

He explained she needed her car for bringing her daughters for various appointments.

Mr Quinn stated the car was fully-insured and the owner of the damaged car had claimed through her insurance policy and he appealed for leniency.

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Mr Quinn asked Judge Bernadette Owens not to disqualify his client.

Judge Owens considered the case and decided not to impose a driving ban.

She convicted the defendant and fined her €500 with five months to pay for the careless driving offence.

Ms Garry was also fined €200 for failing to remain at the scene.