Reckless Kerry driver who was late for ear piercing, disqualified for dangerous driving and no insurance
The KerrymanWhen Niall O’Connor decided to tailgate, he chose poorly.
Tailgating is a poor, and illegal, action in and of itself.
Mr O’Connor (21), of Tullahinnell, Ballylongford, may have known this.
But he was likely unaware that the driver ahead of him was a garda, six-months pregnant, driving with her two-year-old son and had a keen eye for detail.
And so when Garda Michelle Conway took the stand at Tralee District Court on Wednesday, she gave testimony like the professional she was.
Gda Conway told the court she was travelling on the main road from Tralee to Castleisland by Rockfield, Ballymacelligot, near O’Riordan’s Bar, on November 9, 2024, at about 95kph. She said she let a van pass her before Mr O’Connor appeared, speeding and tailgating “to the point where I thought he’d drive into my own car”.
He eventually passed her on the inside and then overtook the van, she told the court. She observed several roads connecting to the main road where he had passed.
Today's News in 90 - Thursday January 15
“It was both reckless and dangerous,” she testified.
She noted licence plate details, a distinctive orange sticker on the vehicle and proceeded into Castleisland, where she saw it parked near The Crumb café.
She had noted the vehicle was particularly dirty but its licence plate was clean and took a photograph she later provided to gardaí.
Sgt Merlyn O’Connor of Castleisland Garda Station phoned the driver and cautioned him. He replied, with an expletive, that he was late for an appointment in Castleisland.
“Judge, he said he was getting his ear pierced,” said Sgt O’Connor.
The following day when Mr O’Connor presented himself to gardai, the vehicle was washed and its stickers removed, the sergeant told the court.
He failed to produce his insurance certificate and furthermore, noted the sergeant, his demeanour had changed.
Judge David Waters fined him €350 and gave him a two-year-disqualification for driving without insurance.
He fined Mr O’Connor an additional €350 with a two-year disqualification for dangerous driving.