Driver who crashed in Offaly on way home from pub left scene

A young driver left the scene after the car he was driving crashed in Kilcormac, Tullamore District Court heard.

“It doesn't surprise me,” Judge Andrew Cody remarked after being told that Jamie Leonard (19), Kyleboher, Kilcormac, was coming from a pub in Tullamore on the night of April 6 last.

Gardai Dhiarmaid Loughnane told the court at 23.50pm a report was received of a collision on the Tullamore Road in Kilcormac and a car was across the inbound lane and the footpath.

The driver was not present in the vehicle but Mr Leonard was identified as the registered owner and gardai doorstepped him.

Garda Loughnane said the accused told them he had panicked after damaging a wall and a number of council bollards.

The garda added that the collision occurred about a mile from Mr Leonard's house and he had been coming from a pub in Tullamore. The driver had no previous convictions.

Patrick Martin, solicitor for the accused man, entered a plea of guilty on his behalf to charges of careless driving and failing to report an occurrence of damage to property.

Mr Martin said Mr Leonard had paid €800 for the damage he had caused. He was currently working in TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) in Spain but would be returning to college in Limerick and was working to finance his studies.

After seeing a photograph from the scene Judge Cody said it appeared to be a very serious collision.

“On the way home from a pub – I can only speculate as to why he left the scene,” said the judge.

He disqualified Mr Leonard from driving for one year and fined him €500.

READ NEXT: Offaly GAA make six figure Revenue provision as accounts show 2025 loss →