Laois man pleaded not guilty to doing ‘donuts’ in Portlaoise carpark
The Plaza carpark at Togher Portlaoise
A MAN who allegedly performed ‘donuts’ in his car in a snow-covered car park in Laois pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving when his case was called at last week’s sitting of the district court in Portlaoise.
David Karczewski (25), 34 Rossvale, Portlaoise was summoned before the court for the offence that took place at The Plaza car park at Togher, Portlaoise on 5 January.⯠Garda Peter Bergin said he and two fellow officers were on mobile patrol in the garda jeep at 1.40am that morning when they received a call from staff from Portlaoise Plaza at junction 17 of up to 14 cars performing stunts in the car park.
He said that at the time there was extreme weather conditions with heavy snow falling and low visibility. On arrival at the scene, he stopped a BMW car and questioned the driver, who had a front seat passenger with him, as to why he had been at the location. He said Mr Karczewski “fully accepted the reason why we stopped him and said it was a social thing.” “Boy racers?” asked Judge Andrew Cody Defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that while there were up to 12 other vehicles present at the time, some drove off when they saw the gardaí arrive, but his client, who had been making his way out, had seen the garda jeep approach did not and came to a stop for them.
“Mr Meagher said that his client will say: “When he stopped, others decided to scarper and the gardaí let others safely away. He will say that he was in the vicinity and was not engaging in ‘donuts’.” Garda Bergin said he didn’t believe that Mr Karczewski was attempting to leave the scene at the time.
Mr Meagher said that the majority people there that morning had met up in their cars for coffee.
“It was an organised boy racer meet,” said Judge Cody, “not a coffee morning for the lads.” Mr Karczewski said he works as an engineering technician that entails a lot of driving.
He said: “Earlier that night, I was in Stradbally with a friend. I got a call from another friend to pick him up in Togher and went to collect him. I wasn’t there for more than an hour. There were loads of cars there doing’ donuts.’ I wasn’t engaged in doing ‘donuts.’ When the gardaí arrived, I was reversing my car and turning rapidly. There was a lot of snow out and it was slippery.” Mr Karczewski added: “The fact that I was in a BMW and there were a lot of other cars about didn’t help me. I didn’t know any of the other people who had been there, only my friend.” Garda sgt JJ Kirby put it to the defendant: “You were caught in the act,” to which Mr Karczewski replied: “I don’t agree with that. I wasn’t doing ‘donuts’.” Judge Cody asked that after picking up his friend and as it was snowing heavy at the time: “Why did it take you up to an hour to go home?” “I was looking at the other lads doing ‘donuts.’ I don’t own that car anymore I own another BMW (240i),” he said.
Mr Meagher said that his client had been driving a 17-year-old BMW at the time and asked that the court accepts the evidence he has given surrounding events that morning; that he provided negative alcohol and drug sample readings; and that his client complied fully with all the directions gardaí had given him at the time.
Sgt Kirby said that Mr Karczewski: “Strikes me as being a decent young man. It might have been a bit of showing off. I would reluctantly agree to reducing the charge or dangerous driving to careless driving.” Judge Cody instructed Mr Karczewski to take a pro-social driving course and adjourned the case for finalisation to the 18 June sitting of the court.
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