Motorist who fled crash scene guilty of 'very mean offence'
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to the offence.
A Castlebar man crashed into a parked vehicle and then fled the scene, a court has heard.
Shane Munnelly, aged 42, of Ballinaglough, Snugboro, Castlebar pleaded guilty at the local district court to careless driving.
Gda Patrick Coen said he was called to the scene of an accident at the Rathbawn Road in Castlebar at 10.45pm on May 22, 2022. A Ford Fusion car, driven by the defendant, crashed into a grey Volkswagen Golf parked on the left-hand side of the road.
The owner of the damaged car, Siobhan Ward, reported hearing a loud bang, and when she looked out of her window, she could see a male in the driver's seat of the offending vehicle. She noted the registration before the vehicle drove off. Ms Ward reported the matter to gardaí who were able to track down Munnelly. He has three previous convictions.
Solicitor Tom Walsh said his client, a father of two, had not been convicted of any offence for 20 years prior to this incident. He was fully insured and his insurance company is dealing with the matter of compensation. However, Gda Coen said the defendant had not previously accepted liability.
“I believe after today he will,” he added.
Imposing a fine of €250, Judge Marie Keane criticised Munnelly for his actions on the day.
“It was a very mean offence,” she added.
