A driver who reversed into a BMW and drove off appeared at a recent sitting of Bantry District Court.

Kevin Murray, of The Cottage in Colla in Schull, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving, and failing to remain at the scene of an incident.

Sgt Trish O’Sullivan said the damage to the white estate car was caused at the East End car park shortly after 11pm on August 9th 2024.

She said CCTV footage showed Kevin Murray get into his car, reverse, then get out of his car after colliding with a parked vehicle to check it, before leaving the scene.

When gardaí called to his home the following morning the accused admitted there had been an impact but he was not aware of having caused any damage.

Flor Murphy said his client had offered to pay for the damage, which he believed would amount to a couple of hundred euros, but the injured party didn’t present him with the bill until about three months later at which stage summonses were issued.

Mr Murphy paid €2,000 in compensation of which €1,200 was for 12 hours of labour.

Judge Joanne Carroll told Mr Murphy his client should have put his name and number on a piece of paper and left it on the windscreen of the BMW.

The accused was given the benefit of the Probation Act ‘by the skin of your teeth’ on the charge of failing to remain at the scene and the careless driving charge was struck out.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.