Fined and banned after collision on Offaly road

FINES totalling €1,400 and two six-month driving bans were imposed on a man responsible for a collision in Birr a year ago.

Vitali Balabas (56), An Grianan, Kickham Street, Thurles, Co Tipperary was summonsed for a number of motoring offences to a hearing at Tullamore District Court on Monday.

Mr Balabas was accused of driving without reasonable consideration for other road users and driving without a licence and not displaying road tax at Railway Road, Birr on February 1, 2025.

The court was told that another driver was coming from the Roscrea direction and saw a car coming from his left and knew that vehicle was not going to stop.

The other vehicle, which had condensation on its windows, struck the car on the main road on its left having come from a junction at Drumbane.

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The damage to the injured party's car was estimated at €4,000 by a mechanic and the insurance company was going to pay €1,300.

Garda Virginia Doona gave evidence of investigating the collision and said the accused man, who had been driving a 2007 Meath registered Nissan Tilda, was brought to Birr Garda Station and said he would produce documents in Thurles but did not do so.

Garda Doona said she was satisfied Mr Balabas was completely at fault for the collision. He had previous convictions for NCT and insurance offences.

Judge Andrew Cody imposed the two driving bans along with a €500 fine for driving without reasonable consideration, a €400 fine for not displaying tax and a €500 fine for driving without a licence.