'You could have killed her' - Offaly man who 'used car as a weapon' convicted

A man who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving was told he had used his car as a weapon at Tullamore District Court.

On July 15, 2020, Jamie Dunne (21) 3, Mohia Lane, Killurin, Tullamore, was driving with his girlfriend when he observed his former girlfriend in another car. He followed the car to Tinnycross, Ballydaly, Tullamore, and when the driver Bernadette Hiney, turned right into her boyfriend’s house he collided with the car causing damage to the back of the vehicle and the wing mirror.

Taking to the witness stand Bernadette Hiney said she was shocked. I didn’t expect that at all. She said she got out of the car and started crying.

Judge Staines said she was very sorry for what had happened to her. She asked her if there had been any other incidents with Mr Dunne since then. Miss Hiney said she had gone to the Applegreen service station last Monday January 31 and Mr Dunne was there with another woman. The woman shouted at her, gave her the fingers and told her she was dead. Miss Hiney said she didn't engage with her and just wanted to get away. She said she had nothing to do with Mr Dunne and had just been driving his former girlfriend on the day of the incident.

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Her father had paid €800 for the damage to the car and he was taking a separate case with his solicitor.

Jamie Dunne had brought €800 with him to court last Wednesday. His solicitor Patrick Martin said he was 21 in full-time employment and needs his car for work as a welder. Mr Martin said Mr Dunne thought Miss Hiney had not indicated when turning right.

Judge Staines said he was tailgating her. She told Mr Dunne that his driving was outrageous. She said he had used his car as a weapon to crash into someone else who had nothing to do with him. "You could have killed her," she said.

Judge Staines noted that Mr Dunne had pleaded guilty even though it was late in the day she said. Earlier he had sought to plead guilty to the lesser offence of careless driving.

She disqualified him from driving for two years and told Ms Hiney if there were any more incidents she was to notify the gardai. She told Mr Dunne if he came before her again for similar incidents he would go to prison.

Solicitor Patrick Martin asked Judge Staines to postpone the disqualification to allow Mr Dunne to make other arrangements. Judge Staines agreed to postpone it until July 1.