Motorist hit passenger with his car twice

WHAT was described in court as an ‘escapade gone wrong’ has resulted in a prison sentence for a Bandon man.

Jimmy Thompson (24) from Foxs Hill, Bandon, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while intoxicated, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance in Bandon Court recently.

The court heard that on September 3rd 2014, Thompson was arrested near Macroom where he ran over, not once but twice, a woman who was travelling in his car minutes earlier.

Judge James McNulty heard that Thompson was driving what was referred to as a ‘company car’ which was purchased for approximately €100 and was not insured. He was driving at speed and very recklessly, and then used the hand break to bring the car to a halt.

Chole O’Keeffe, who was a passenger in the car with Thompson, told gardai that she got out of the car because she was frightened by the way Thompson was driving and when she did this, he hit her with the car and ran over her, twice. 

While Judge McNulty accepted evidence that Thompson did not deliberately hit Miss O’Keeffe with the car, his action did result in Miss O’Keeffe needing medical care at Cork University Hospital.

At the time of the incident, Thompson was disqualified from driving, was not insured, did not have a licence and was found to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Thompson admitted to gardai that he had smoked two joints earlier that day.

Judge McNulty convicted Jimmy Thompson and sentenced him to five months in prison, endorsed his licence and disqualified him from driving for seven years.