A man who crashed his car into the front porch of a pensioner’s home in West Clare has been disqualified from driving for two years.
Jonathan Griffin (39) left the scene of the crash and went to a pub before returning to the scene where he met Gardaí, Kilrush district court heard. Griffin, with an address at Caislean Na hAbhainn, Castletroy, Limerick, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of careless driving and other driving offences. A charge of drink driving was withdrawn and struck out.
Garda Michael Daniels told the court that at 1pm on January 11, 2020, he and a colleague received a report of a car colliding with the porch of a home in Lisdeen, Kilkee.
The court heard witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a car crash into the property. Garda Daniels said the owner of the home, a woman in her 70s, was in her back garden at the time and was unharmed. The garda said the driver had left the scene and an hour later gardai received reports of a man matching the driver’s description about a mile from the scene.
When gardai met Griffin, they noticed he was “shaking” the court heard. He was subsequently identified as the driver. Judge Mary Larkin said she did not see how she could accept a reduced plea of careless driving from dangerous driving. The judge said it was clear the driving in this case was dangerous.
Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court that conditions on the day were bad and the house is located on the bend. Mr Hassett said his client had left the scene, gone to a local public house and returned to the scene after a short while. Judge Larkin said the court had to be concerned about the public at large and it was clear the accused “was going too fast around the bend”.
The judge said she would convict Griffin on careless driving but would not accept a special reason not to disqualify him. She imposed a two year driving ban and a number of fines for the other driving offences. Recognisances were set on the event of an appeal.
