Offaly man who drove into a hedge while texting appears in court

A recent sitting of Tullamore District Court heard evidence about a single vehicle road traffic accident, which took place in  Killure  Rhode on October 10, 2020. 

Paul Kearney, Togher, Rhode was summonsed to court for careless driving contrary to section 52.   

Garda John Egan told the court that Mr Kearney’s car drove into a hedge and the defendant “admitted that he had been texting on his smartphone while he was  driving and he lost control of the car.”

Kearney had 17 previous convictions, including driving while intoxicated and failing/refusing to provide a blood or urine sample.

The defending solicitor Patrick Martin told the court that his client was homeless when the October 10, 2020 incident happened, and he “suffers from mental health issues. He is 37 years of age and single.” 

Judge Andrew Cody convicted and fined €100.