Truck driver fined after collision with coach on bog road in Offaly

THE June 28 sitting of Tullamore District Court heard evidence about a traffic accident involving a coach and a truck on a narrow bog road near Daingean. 

Michael McDonagh, Bay 17, St Margaret's Park, Ballymun, Dublin 11 was charged with careless driving on August 4 2022 at Clonad Daingean. He was also charged with failing to properly use his tachograph at the same place and on the same date. 

Sgt James O’Sullivan told the court that the Gardaí were called to the scene of the traffic accident. They found that Michael McDonagh was driving the truck, which was filled with concrete.

He told them that when he moved the truck to the verge of the road to avoid an oncoming coach, with a significant number of passengers, the rear of his truck skidded, which made it go out of control and hit the coach. 

None of the passengers or the drivers were seriously injured in the accident, but a number of people did receive cuts, bruises and whiplash injuries. There was also significant damage to the vehicles. 

The defending solicitor Donal Farrelly said his client was pleading guilty.

“The investigating Garda,” he said, “had a considerable amount of sympathy for my client because of the narrow and bumpy road. The driving conditions were difficult.” 

Sgt O’Sullivan told the court that Mr McDonagh had four previous convictions including a conviction in October 2015 for burglary and a conviction in November 2005 for no insurance. 

Judge Andrew Cody said there was “very significant damage caused to both vehicles.” 

Mr Farrelly pointed out that Mr McDonagh has back problems.

“He is currently unemployed and is on illness benefit. On the day he was making a delivery and he was worried about being short of time, therefore he briefly switched off the tachograph. He accepts that this was a wrong thing to do.” 

Judge Cody convicted and fined €700 for the two offences.