A restricted driver from Blackwatertown who fled the scene after crashing his car on a grass verge has been fined and disqualified from driving for 18 months.
The case of Ruairi McGee, (24), of Lisdarragh Drive, was heard before Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry Courthouse.
He was charged with failing to report an accident, failing to stop at an accident, dangerous driving and exceeding 45mph as an R driver.
A further charge of failing to remain at an accident was withdrawn by the District Judge.
The court heard that on June 11 of this year, police received reports of a single-vehicle road traffic collision on the Armagh Road at Moy. They arrived at the scene and confirmed that the driver of the vehicle had “fled from the area”.
Police observed a vehicle on the hard shoulder in the direction of Armagh city, with the vehicle facing the direction of Moy. There was “significant damage to the front and rear of the vehicle” and also damage to a fence on the hard shoulder.
Police established that the vehicle had struck the grass verge and travelled approximately 200m, colliding with the fence and various hedges. Checks on police systems showed that the defendant was the last registered owner of the vehicle.
Fintan McAleer BL, defending, said: “This man doesn’t take any issue with the facts at all. He doesn’t seek to justify his driving in any way. He fully accepts that he shouldn’t have been driving at this speed or in this manner.”
He said that the defendant’s “passion” was motoring, and that the vehicle involved cost in the region of £20,000.
As the insurance did not pay out, the defence said that, “in addition to the court sanction, there’s a significant penalty in terms of financial aspects that he’ll have to continue to meet”.
He added that the defendant, who works on building sites in England, has a relevant conviction for similar matters in 2018.
“His mum and dad are very annoyed with him. They’re very angry with him and they don’t condone this driving in any way.”
District Judge Anne Marshall, on passing sentence, fined McGee £200 for the dangerous driving charge, alongside imposing a £15 offender levy and a disqualification from driving for 18 months.
For the other matters, District Judge Marshall imposed a £100 fine and six months disqualification on each charge.
He was given 12 weeks to pay.
