Portlaoise Court - Reversed onto roundabout when cat was ill
The woman appeared at Portlaoise District Court
A WOMAN who reversed onto a roundabout when she was distracted because one of her cats was ill was convicted of driving without reasonable consideration.
The 66-year-old took the wrong exit on a roundabout in Portlaoise and decided to reverse, but was pulled in by gardaí.
At Portlaoise District Court, Katerina McLaughlin, Gleebaun, Clonboyne, Portlaoise pleaded guilty to the offence, which happened on 2 July last year.
Garda Fitzsimons said he saw a Nissan Micra take the first roundabout exit after travelling from Fr Browne Avenue. The vehicle was about a car length into the junction when it reversed onto the roundabout and proceeded towards the next exit.
The garda said that, when he stopped the car, Ms McLaughlin said she was going to the shop and couldn’t explain why she had reversed.
Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was “a genuine animal lover” who was caring for three cats, one of which was ill at the time.
She was heading for Lidl but realised she had taken the wrong exit as soon as she entered the junction. The car was just a short distance into the exit and she reversed rather than taking the long way round.
The solicitor said: “She was particularly concerned about leaving the animals alone, as one of the cats was quite sick. She is a genuine animal lover and a very genuine, caring person.”
Judge Andrew Cody imposed a €250 fine for driving without reasonable consideration.
