A DRIVER who crashed into a bollard and left the scene of the accident was convicted and fined €400.
Brendan Crowley (29), of Bauravilla, Skibbereen, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.
Skibbereen District Court heard that gardaí attended the scene of a crash at Cork Road, Gortnaclohy in Skibbereen at around 3am on August 28th 2025.
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Sgt Tom Mulcahy said a Ford Focus with extensive damage to the driver’s side was left at the scene.
‘Local residents heard the incident outside their homes. A bollard was damaged during the incident,’ said Sgt Mulcahy.
‘The Ford Focus mounted the footpath and continued for about 80 to 100 metres before stopping.’
Gardaí identified the accused as the registered driver. They met with Mr Crowley on September 4th and he admitted that he had been driving the car at the time of the collision.
‘He had panicked and fled the scene. He did not report the collision. He said he did not have insurance at the time,’ said Sgt Mulcahy.
The court heard that the defendant, who had no previous convictions, admitted that he was driving too fast, and that his driving was dangerous and reckless.
Defence solicitor Margaret Collins said her client had since made efforts to compensate Cork County Council for the damage.
She said he is a very honest young man who had worked in farming at the time of the accident and is now working as a roofer.
‘He was working with a colleague of his that night and they had a bite to eat and it was quite late when he was coming back,’ said Ms Collins.
She said his phone was dead and had no option but to walk home.
He contacted gardaí and arranged to meet them.
Ms Collins added that he had been having trouble with the gearbox of another car, which was insured.
But that his replacement car, driven on the night of the accident, was not insured.
Judge Joanne Carroll reduced the charge of dangerous driving to careless driving, imposing a fine of €200.
She convicted and fined him €200 for driving without insurance.
She struck out the offence of leaving the scene of an accident .
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
