Man overtook cars on continuous white line around bend in Laois

A court  was told a garda van followed a driver who overtook cars on a continuous white line around a bend in Laois.

Jack Horan (24) of 12 Willow Grove, Mountmellick appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of two counts of dangerous driving on the N80 at Nyra, Mountmellick and Baggotstown in Laois on January 17 last. 

Garda Sergeant Willie Kirwan said he was driving from Portlaoise to Tullamore in a marked garda van when he noticed the defendant driving a red Suzuki jeep. He said the road was wet when the accused overtook “a number of cars” on a bend with a continuous white line at Nyra. He said the man overtook again near a turn off for Geashill and “braked suddenly” before continuing straight on.

“We kept him in sight at all times until we caught up with him,” said Sgt Kirwan. 

A solicitor for the accused said his client, who is a heavy diesel fitter,  had accepted his responsibility and was apologetic when stopped and was pleading guilty. “He had quite a sick child at home,” the solicitor said.

Judge Andrew Cody said the defendant had a dangerous driving offence reduced to careless in 2023 and he had a conviction for hit and run, no insurance and in 2021, dangerous driving. 

The solicitor said his client had been off the road for a time but he said he was still a young man. He said the man had been polite despite it being a very stressful night for him. 

Judge Cody fined the man a total of €1,500 and disqualified him from driving for four years. He fixed recognisance in case of appeal and an appeal was lodged before the court sitting concluded.