Laois driver ducked at the wheel when he saw gardaí

A Laois man who hit another car whilst drug driving and uninsured was fined a total of €2,000, and banned from driving for four years.

Joshua Brennan (23) with an address at Maidenhead, Arles, Co Laois was appearing in Athy District Court having already pleaded guilty to the offences on a previous date at Fort Barrington, and Corraun Ard in Athy on 16 November, 2023.

“Judge, he overtook a car that was turning right and clipped the front of it,” said Sergeant Dave Hanrahan.

“When gardaí attended he tested positive for cannabis, and had a small bag in his car, valued at €30.”

“He has been fully cooperative,” added the sergeant generously.

“He was disqualified (from driving) on 3 June 2023, but before that, no previous,” he said.

“He was in a mess, spiralled for a while, and got into things he shouldn’t have, but he’s in steady employment now,” said investigating officer Garda Kevin Byrne.

“He went through a very bad six months, drinking and driving,” said his solicitor Seamus Taaffe in reference to his previous conviction.

He added: “But his mother has taken him in, she’s a nurse in Portlaoise.”

“You are very lucky the garda witness sees something good in you, you are very fortunate,” said Judge Desmond Zaidan.

“He’s god a good job with construction in Dublin, and leaves for work at around 5.30am, coming home at 630pm,” said Mr Taaffe.

“He is already disqualified, but asks the court not to impose a custodial sentence,” he pleaded.

“When he clipped the car, how did you identify him?” asked the judge.

“When we drove past him he ducked down,” said Garda Byrne. “He told us he was disqualified, and a learned driver.”

The judge said: “You have to see the funny side of it, if you weren’t smart enough to follow your instincts.”

“If he had driven along normally, he would’ve gotten away with it,” said Garda Byrne.

“Good old policing, you can’t beat that,” commented the judge.

For dangerous driving, the judge fined Mr Brennan €1,000 and banned him from driving for four years, and he fined him a further €1,000 for driving without insurance with a two-year ban to run concurrently.