A Portadown care assistant who caused damage to two vehicles in a hospital car park before driving off has been handed five penalty points.
The judge told the 32-year-old’s solicitor: “This woman reverses by touch and she does not know what mirrors are for – and it’s not for doing your make up.”
Susanna Oliveira, of Jervis Street, pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention, failing to stop, failing to remain and failing to report an accident at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court last Friday.
It was heard that on February 4, at 1.45pm, police received a report of an accident which occurred in the car park of the Craigavon Area Hospital.
A witness had observed a Mini Cooper reverse colliding with a green Mazda pushing it into another vehicle before driving off.
On February 27, police attended the home of the last register owner of the car.
They spoke to the defendant who admitted to being aware of hitting the other vehicle and to then driving off.
Defence solicitor Philip Reid stated: “Ms Oliveira is Portuguese, she has lived in Northern Ireland for five years and works as a care assistant and she had been working in Craigavon Area Hospital on that day.”
District Judge Bernie Kelly said: “Surely her main job is caring for people; these people were taking loved ones to A and E, or visiting those who were sick but she didn’t care.
“This is just about one of the nastiest offences that one can commit.”
Mr Reid commented: “There was a slight dent to the two cars involved.”
Judge Kelly stated: “That does not matter, this woman reverses by touch and she does not know what mirrors are for and it’s not for doing your make up.
“This is a really nasty offence, even if you are in a hurry it does not take long to leave a note or to contact the police.”
Oliveira was handed five penalty points and ordered to pay a fine of £375, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 10 weeks.
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