Fine for careless driving on Longford road

A defendant who collided with another vehicle on a narrow country road was fined €3000 at Longford District Court. David Clarke of Apartment 24, Block F, Smithfield Market, Dublin 7 was charged with driving without due care and attention.

Sergeant Enda Daly said that at 11am on September 18, 2021 at Templeton Glebe, Killashee, Longford a two vehicle collision occurred on the bend of a narrow road. The occupant of the other vehicle was removed to Mullingar general hospital.

Although the defendant failed the roadside breath test a station test showed that he had a very low reading, 2mg per 100 ml of breath, from the night before. The reading was below the legal limit.

Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client has no previous convictions. Ms Mimnagh said Clark works “very hard” in the financial sector and had on the occasion came down to Longford from a break. The solicitor said the the collision happened on a narrow road of a single carriageway.

She said her client was fully insured and the other party compensated adding: “He has taken this matter very seriously, and has not driven since the incident.”

In summing up Judge John Brennan said the defendant was a “lucky man” as no one was hurt. He said the defendant made a mistake on narrow, unfamiliar roads. As such the judge said a disqualification was “inappropriate”. Judge Brennan registered a conviction and imposed a fine of €300 with two months to pay.