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Didn't stay at scene of Bantry accident

April 9th, 2019 11:23 AM

By Southern Star Team

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A 74-year-old man who was involved in a road traffic collision during a funeral at Chapel Street in Bantry is to pay penalties amounting to €1,000.

A 74-YEAR-old man who was involved in a road traffic collision during a funeral at Chapel Street in Bantry is to pay penalties amounting to €1,000.

Flor Murphy, defending solicitor, told Judge James McNulty at Bantry District Court that his client was pleading guilty to a charge of failing to remain at the scene of an accident on April 28th 2018 and failing to give appropriate information.

Despite the plea, the solicitor said the defendant, John O’Donovan of Ballybane, Ballydehob, did, in fact, pull in after his car grazed an oncoming car but he moved on shortly afterwards because there were a lot of cars behind him.

Mr Murphy said the accident happened because there were cars parked on both sides of the roadway and both he and the oncoming motorist were forced into the middle of the carriageway.

In mitigation, the solicitor said his client was on his way to Bantry General Hospital and that might have caused him to be a bit preoccupied.

Judge McNulty adjourned the case to the April 11th sitting of Bantry District Court to allow time for compensation to be paid to the driver of the other car.

The judge  indicated that he was contemplating fines in the order of €1,000.

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