A BANTRY man who was involved in a hit and run in Dunmanway was given a two-month suspended prison sentence and fined €1,750.

Gareth Whooley (29), of Derrinkealigh, Bantry, appeared at Clonakilty District Court on a charge of dangerous driving.

The court heard that gardaí received a report of a two-vehicle collision near Ardcahan Bridge, Dunmanway on the evening of July 18th 2025 and the driver of a Land Cruiser left the scene.

Rachel Kingston, who was a back seat passenger in the other car involved in the crash, said she had been on the way to McDonald’s in a car with two friends.

‘I remember looking up and seeing headlights coming towards us and then there was an impact. We were all in shock and I called 112,’ she said.

She said she remembered a Land Rover or Jeep coming towards her. 

Her neighbour, Neil Crowley, was passing the scene and helped Ms Kingston and her friends out of the car.

Ms Kingston, whose sternum was fractured in the crash, said she did not see the driver of the other car. 

Neil Crowley said he saw a man exiting the Land Cruiser but by the time he came back after helping Ms Kingston and her friends the man had left the scene.

Mr Crowley said he saw the driver of the Land Cruiser clearly and, following a call from a friend, recognised the man on Facebook.

Gda Emma Corkery said a search of the abandoned Land Cruiser revealed a certificate of insurance in the name of Val Whooley and medication in the name of Gareth Whooley. 

The owner was Christopher Whooley who told gardaí he had sold the car to his cousin Gareth Whooley but had not officially transferred the ownership. 

Gda Corkery said that on being asked to make a statement, both Avril O’Dea and James Crowley refused.

Rachel Kingston attended Dunmanway Garda Station and gave a statement after the accident.

Gareth Whooley went to Dunmanway Garda station where he refused to make a statement.

Judge Joanne Carroll said the court was short of sufficient evidence for dangerous driving but she was convicting him of careless driving.

Defence counsel argued that a charge of failing to give information did not apply because there was no evidence Mr Whooley was at the scene.

Counsel also argued there was no evidence the Land Cruiser was moved and it remained at the scene, meaning a charge on Section 106 1b for not keeping a vehicle at or near an accident scene did not apply. 

The court heard Mr Whooley, who is employed as a driver for a transport company, had a previous conviction for careless driving. 

Judge Carroll convicted and fined him €1,750 for careless driving.

She imposed a two-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months on the Section 106 charges and commended Neil Crowley and Rachel Kingston, saying they had done their public service giving evidence. 

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.