‘How stupid can you get?’ – Warning for Dublin driver who left scene of M1 toll plaza crash
“If you ever pull a stunt like that again, you will find yourself disqualified,” a judge has warned a 30-year-old motorist.
Judge Nicola Andrews was speaking at Drogheda Court after hearing how Joshua Murphy left the scene of a collision at a motorway toll plaza.
The defendant, of Landscape Crescent, Churchtown, Dublin 14, and working in London, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance at M1 Toll Plaza, Junction 9, Drogheda, while behind the wheel of his mother’s car.
He also admitted failing to produce insurance and four hit and run summonses stemming from the incident on June 27, 2024.
Court presenter Sgt John O’Hehir said that Mr Murphy thought a pass on the Volkswagen Golf he was driving would allow him through the toll.
When it didn’t, he reversed and collided with the front bumper of a car which had pulled over after its driver dropped her card. There was minimal damage.
The defendant drove off. He was identified from CCTV. He contacted Gardaí and was told to produce documents.
“How stupid can you get?” Judge Andrews remarked, adding “the place is covered in cameras”.
A letter of apology was handed up by Mr Murphy’s barrister Niall Mackin who said that his client had been immature and “not aware of his surroundings”.
He didn’t wait, Sgt O’Hehir interjected.
Judge Andrews imposed a €201 for driving without insurance and a further €301 fine on one of the hit and run summonses, with the others taken into consideration.