Author Topic: Carnage On Irish Roads  (Read 34062 times)

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #135 on: April 29, 2019, 01:06:16 pm »
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-anxious-to-speak-to-bmw-driver-who-stopped-at-scene-of-fatal-collision-38042494.html

Gardaí anxious to speak to BMW driver who stopped at scene of fatal collision

Independent.ie Newsdesk 
April 23 2019 1:14 PM
 
Gardai investigating a fatal collision are appealing for a BMW driver who stopped at the scene to get in contact.

Tressa McKernan (75) was struck by a motorcycle on Ballinteer Avenue in Dublin 16 on April 8.

She had just stepped off a bus and was attempting to cross the road when the collision occurred.

She was transferred to  Beaumont hospital where she later passed away.

Gardai say they are anxious to speak to the driver of a silver BMW who stopped after the collision.

Anyone with information or who witnessed this collision is asked to contact Dundrum Garda Station on 01-6665600 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #136 on: May 06, 2019, 06:50:37 pm »
https://www.thejournal.ie/paul-connelly-eight-and-half-years-for-man-who-drove-into-pedestrians-on-footpath-after-taking-drugs-and-alcohol-4619152-May2019/

Banned driver who left student with 'catastrophic' brain injury jailed for eight years

Paul Connolly was under the influence of drugs and driving his young child to school when his car mounted the footpath.

A KILDARE MAN who left two pedestrians seriously injured when he drove onto a busy footpath before “calmly” leaving the scene has been given an eight and a half year sentence.

Paul Connolly (37) was under the influence of drugs and driving his young child to school when his car mounted the footpath, leaving one young law student with a “catastrophic” brain injury.

Connolly, of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Co Kildare, has 215 previous convictions including 14 for dangerous driving and three for hit-and-runs. He admitted to taking cocaine and tablets the night before.

He was on a 25-year driving ban at the time and had been released from prison a month earlier.

Connolly pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Igoe and Mr Dhala at Coolmine Road, Coolmine on 1 May 2018.

He also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs; possession of cannabis; failing to remain at the scene; failing to offer assistance; failing to alert gardaí; as well as driving without insurance or a driving licence on the same occasion.

Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence today, giving Connolly credit for his guilty plea, his remorse and his limited cooperation. She said she also took into account Connolly’s long-standing addiction issues.

At a previous hearing, the court heard how Connolly “undertook” a line of traffic stopped at a railway barrier, before suddenly swerving onto the pavement where he first hit Michael Igoe (54) and continued driving to hit student Francis Dhala (19), causing him “catastrophic” injuries.

Witnesses described him going back onto the road, doing a U-turn and driving “calmly” from the scene with a smashed windscreen. He was followed by a driving instructor who kept in touch with gardaí until they were able to intercept him.

‘Considerable distress’
The court heard Connolly told initially gardaí he thought he had hit “a bush.” He later said he had taken his eyes off the road for a second and didn’t know he had hit anyone.

Igoe sustained a badly-fractured ankle, bruising, torn shoulder muscles and concussion from bang to his head. He underwent surgery and the insertion of plates and screws in his ankle. He continues to have a limp.

Judge Greally noted that Igoe’s victim impact report was “very understated” but said he had no doubt experienced a significant deterioration in his health and well-being.

Dhala suffered a severe and traumatic brain injury and underwent multiple surgeries, spending over three months in hospital. He is currently spending weekdays at the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dún Laoghaire.

The court heard Dhala has done well since the accident but suffers ongoing issues such as cognitive defects and short-term memory problems. He has recently regained the ability to speak, eat and drink normally but is not expected to return to his full previous level of cognitive functioning.

Judge Greally said this had serious future consequences for Dhala who was studying law and attended court in a wheelchair with his family.

She wished both Igoe and Dhala a full recovery and said that she hoped Francis Dhala continues with his chosen career in law, adding “perhaps one day we will see him in this building.”
The judge also noted the serious trauma caused to Dhala’s family, particularly his sister Grace who was with him at the time, and the fact that the family was told multiple times that Francis was in danger of dying or of remaining in a vegetative state.

She said the family was in need of ongoing psychological support and had incurred hospital bills of over €100,000.

Defence counsel, Martin O’Rourke SC, handed in a letter of apology from Connolly and a psychological report into court.

He said Connolly admitted taking cocaine and self-medicating with street benzodiazepine as he had been on anti-depressants but could no longer afford them. He said his client had a difficult family background and started drinking as a 14-year-old, with most of his convictions being drink-related.

Judge Greally said there were “extreme’ aggravating factors in the case, including the “inherent danger” of passing a line of cars on the inside, then mounting a footpath exposing numerous pedestrians to danger, added to the fact that Connolly then accelerated along the path.

She also listed the fact that Connolly left the scene, was intoxicated at the time, and was driving his own daughter who was described by witnesses as in a state of “considerable distress”.

The eight-and-a-half-year sentence was backdated to 1 May last year. Connolly was ordered to be of good behaviour and abide by the supervision of the Probation Services for 18 months on his release.

Offline Shallowhal

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #137 on: May 06, 2019, 07:26:58 pm »
Probably got out early from his previous sentence putting him back on the road.....while on a 25yr driving ban....only has 14 dangerous driving and 3 hit and run convictions....here's 18 months off this sentence....and hope you reform....soon!!

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #138 on: May 07, 2019, 01:33:33 pm »
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/driver-arrested-in-cork-after-truck-crashes-into-sea-922302.html

Driver arrested in Cork after truck crashes into sea

By Eoin English
Irish Examiner Reporter

Monday, May 06, 2019 - 12:09 PM

A man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after the articulated truck he was driving crashed into the sea in the early hours of the morning.

Luckily, the tide was out at the time and the truck landed in just a few feet of water.

The driver and sole occupant of the car, a man in his fifties, managed to escape from his cab without injury.

Gardaí who were called to the scene near Youghal found him on the roadside and arrested him at the scene.

The incident occurred on the N25, about a kilometre on the Waterford side of Youghal Bridge, in the townland of Kinsale Beg at around 2am.

Gardaí from Dungarvan attended and found the articulated truck resting on its right-hand side in the water.

It is believed the truck had been driving towards Waterford, possibly on route to Rosslare ferry port, when the driver lost control.

The truck veered across the road and smashed through a stone wall into the sea.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and he was taken to Dungarvan Garda Station.

Gardaí say investigations ongoing.

Traffic restrictions have been put in place along a section of the west-bound lane around the accident site and motorists have been advised to exercise caution in the area.

Arrangements are being made to have the truck removed from the water.

Offline Shallowhal

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #139 on: May 07, 2019, 04:01:27 pm »
Very articulate.

Offline Bob Shillin

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #140 on: May 07, 2019, 05:45:07 pm »
Very articulate.
Possibly not, that was why he was arrested?
"So look into the mirror, do you recognise someone, is it who you always thought you would become, when you were young?"

Offline Belker

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #141 on: May 07, 2019, 10:57:54 pm »
Paul Connolly (37) was under the influence of drugs and driving his young child to school when his car mounted the footpath, leaving one young law student with a “catastrophic” brain injury.

Connolly, of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Co Kildare, has 215 previous convictions including 14 for dangerous driving and three for hit-and-runs. He admitted to taking cocaine and tablets the night before.

He was on a 25-year driving ban at the time and had been released from prison a month earlier.
Quote

What a Fookin joke ! And here I am worrying if my bandages will pass Suitability !!

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #142 on: May 08, 2019, 08:01:55 pm »
Why not just buy the specified kit? Hardly worth worrying about.

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #143 on: May 08, 2019, 08:15:11 pm »
https://www.thejournal.ie/12-motorists-for-dangerous-driving-while-attending-killarney-rally-event-4622133-May2019/

12 arrested for dangerous driving after crackdown on attendees at Kerry road racing event

16 people were arrested in Killarney across the bank holiday weekend.

Tue 10:01 AM

SIXTEEN PEOPLE IN Killarney were arrested over the bank holiday weekend in relation to dangerous driving and drug driving incidents.

Twelve of those arrested for dangerous driving had attended the motorsport event, Rally of the Lakes, in Co Kerry.

Plainclothes gardaí, who were deployed as part of the policing plan for the event hosted by Killarney and District Motor Club, observed the majority of the incidents.

Roads Policing Inspector Tony Sugrue said:
“We want to thank the many thousands of people who came to Killarney over the Bank Holiday Weekend and who listened to our message. 99% of people arrived in Killarney to enjoy themselves in a safe and respectful manner but unfortunately, others arrived with a different agenda,” Sugrue said in a statement.

The Kerry Divisional Roads Policing Unit also carried out checkpoints throughout the weekend, resulting in the arrests of four drivers on suspicion of drink/drug driving.

At 10.30am, 11 people are due to appear before Killarney District Court in relation to dangerous driving incidents, while one person has been charged and is due before the courts later this month.

A file is to prepared in relation to the four drivers arrested on suspicion of drink/drug driving.

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #144 on: May 15, 2019, 07:34:49 pm »
https://www.thejournal.ie/motorist-dublin-fine-champions-league-phone-4623952-May2019/

Motorist faces €1,000 fine after being caught watching Champions League match while driving

The driver was spotted in the Dublin area yesterday evening.

May 8th 2019

GARDAÍ IN DUBLIN have issued a penalty notice to a motorist who they caught driving while watching a soccer match on their mobile phone.

The individual was spotted by members of the Garda’s traffic division in north Dublin yesterday evening, when they were watching a match on a hands-free kit attached to their windscreen.

The Garda traffic unit’s Twitter account posted about the incident, suggesting that the individual was caught watching the Champions League semi-final between Liverpool and Barcelona.

“Champions League update….Motorist detected by DMR North Roads Policing Unit watching match on mobile phone while driving!” the account tweeted.

The tweet added that the motorist would be issued with a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice.

Under road safety laws which came into effect in 2014, drivers caught using their mobile phone to text or access other media face fines of up to €1,000, even if the device is in a hands-free kit.

Motorists who are convicted under the regulations must attend court, where the sum of the fine will be set by a judge.

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #145 on: May 15, 2019, 07:36:28 pm »
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/29-arrests-and-11k-in-drugs-seized-during-rugby-7s-tournament-in-cork-922728.html

29 arrests and €11k in drugs seized during rugby 7s tournament in Cork

08/05/2019 - 12:22:00

By Eoin English
Irish Examiner Reporter

Drugs worth an estimated €11,000 were seized and 29 people were arrested as part of a large garda operation mounted during the Kinsale 7s rugby tournament in Co Cork over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Gardaí confirmed this morning that as part of the policing plan for the tournament, they deployed additional plainclothes members from the Divisional Drugs Unit as well as members from the Roads Policing Unit, in and around the town of Kinsale.

It resulted in the arrest of 29 people for incidents including alleged public order offences, suspected drink and drunk driving, and possession of suspected drugs.

Superintendent Brendan Fogarty, who is based in Bandon Garda Station, said more than 20,000 people come through Kinsale over the bank holiday weekend and the vast majority were "respectful and complied with gardaí and stewards".

"However, we had 60 detections for possession of suspected drugs, mostly cocaine, which amounted to approximately €11,000," he said.

This is an alarming amount of detections for drugs. Drugs have such a negative impact on so many lives and have no place in our communities.

"Six people also took the risk of getting behind the wheel with drugs or alcohol in their system.

"People who do this are putting themselves, our family, and our friends at risk by driving whilst intoxicated.

"If you are going out and want to have a few drinks, leave the car at home. Never ever drink and drive.”

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #146 on: May 15, 2019, 07:38:12 pm »
https://extra.ie/2019/05/12/news/irish-news/drug-driver-arrested-van

‘DRUG DRIVER’ ARRESTED AND VAN FOUND WITH NO TAX FOR FIVE YEARS IN DUBLIN

By Graham McGrath -12/05/2019

Gardai arrested a driver on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs in Dublin.

The driver tested positive for cocaine at a roadside test performed by Gardai at one of two checkpoints in Clondalkin on Sunday.

At another checkpoint in Clondalkin, Gardai also discovered two vehicles with no tax or valid NCT.

One of those vehicles was a van and officers found that it hadn’t been taxed for the last five years.

All drivers are now facing court proceedings in relation to the stops.

The force tweeted: ‘DMR RPU: two c/points this AM in Clondalkin. One driver arrested on suspicion of drug driving (cocaine) & two vehicles seized for No Tax/NCT.Tax on van expired 5yrs ago!! Proceedings to follow.’

Offline Belker

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #147 on: May 16, 2019, 06:32:53 am »
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/29-arrests-and-11k-in-drugs-seized-during-rugby-7s-tournament-in-cork-922728.html

29 arrests and €11k in drugs seized during rugby 7s tournament in Cork

08/05/2019 - 12:22:00

By Eoin English
Irish Examiner Reporter

Drugs worth an estimated €11,000 were seized and 29 people were arrested as part of a large garda operation mounted during the Kinsale 7s rugby tournament in Co Cork over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Gardaí confirmed this morning that as part of the policing plan for the tournament, they deployed additional plainclothes members from the Divisional Drugs Unit as well as members from the Roads Policing Unit, in and around the town of Kinsale.

It resulted in the arrest of 29 people for incidents including alleged public order offences, suspected drink and drunk driving, and possession of suspected drugs.

Superintendent Brendan Fogarty, who is based in Bandon Garda Station, said more than 20,000 people come through Kinsale over the bank holiday weekend and the vast majority were "respectful and complied with gardaí and stewards".

"However, we had 60 detections for possession of suspected drugs, mostly cocaine, which amounted to approximately €11,000," he said.

This is an alarming amount of detections for drugs. Drugs have such a negative impact on so many lives and have no place in our communities.

"Six people also took the risk of getting behind the wheel with drugs or alcohol in their system.

"People who do this are putting themselves, our family, and our friends at risk by driving whilst intoxicated.

"If you are going out and want to have a few drinks, leave the car at home. Never ever drink and drive.”

And pay fer your Taxi fare home, not like the Two scrotes who 'Bunked' me on a Fifty Five Euro fare from Kinsale to Mayfield that same weekend !!

Offline Belker

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #148 on: May 16, 2019, 06:38:06 am »
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/driver-arrested-in-cork-after-truck-crashes-into-sea-922302.html

Driver arrested in Cork after truck crashes into sea

By Eoin English
Irish Examiner Reporter

Monday, May 06, 2019 - 12:09 PM

A man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after the articulated truck he was driving crashed into the sea in the early hours of the morning.

When did the Irish term of 'Drunken Driving' turn in to the American term of 'Driving under the influence' (DUI) ?

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Carnage On Irish Roads
« Reply #149 on: May 16, 2019, 05:16:17 pm »
Drunk would suggest under the influence of alcohol, I guess. As evident in the above reports cocaine abuse is probably a bigger issue these days. I believe it's commonly used by "professional" drivers to stay awake for longer shifts. In fact I've been offered cocaine several times by dealers who have told me "all" taxi drivers use it. I certainly don't and never will but that seems to tie in with drivers unions, including TTnH and ITDF, making representations on behalf of drug dealing (would be) double jobbing taxi drivers in court.

 


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