Hit car after losing control

Lee O’Hare, Ringsend Road, Castlewellan, was fined £100 and banned from driving for 18 months for driving without due care and attention on November 29 last year.

Three £100 fines and concurrent 18 month bans were imposed for failing to stop, failing to remain at the scene and failing to report an accident. He was also ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy.

The court heard that a road traffic collision took place on the Castlewellan Road, Banbridge, around 3pm where the injured party was attended to by ambulance staff. The driver of the other car was not present.

Witnesses said the defendant’s car swerved onto the wrong side of the road before skidding, mounting a grass verge and hitting a vehicle coming in the opposite direction.

Police could not speak to O’Hare who was working outside the jurisdiction.

A public prosecutor said the injured party said she was left upset and her lower back was sore.

A solicitor representing the defendant said he had been driving within the speed limit but took the corner too fast and lost control.

He added that what was followed was foolish when O’Hare, in a state of shock, left the scene.

The solicitor explained that the defendant was due to get a ferry in two hours time that day to go to Wales to work. He had no previous record and no points on his licence.

He said O’Hare was heavily reliant on his licence, doing specialist work with wind turbines around the UK.

District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, asked what the defendant had done about the victims of such a ‘callous act’.

The solicitor said O’Hare was genuinely remorseful and would apologise. He was more than willing to pay any compensation.

Judge Copeland said he would have been more impressed if O’Hare had contacted the victim and offered an apology.

Later in the court O’Hare’s solicitor applied for bail to appeal against the sentencing.

Judge Copeland set bail to appeal at £500 and granted the defendant leave to drive pending appeal.