Mayo postman cleared over train collision

 

A CHARGE of dangerous driving brought against the local postman in Ballyvary, Co. Mayo, as a result of a collision involving a train at a level crossing has been dismissed on technical grounds by Judge Mary Devins at Castlebar District Court.

The defendant, John Canning, Ballyvary, was seriously injured in the accident when his mail van was struck by a passenger train coming from Ballina on the morning of February 12, 2014.

In her ruling, Judge Mary Devins said she held with the State in relation to the dangerous driving as the defendant clearly had local knowledge of the area and should have known that trains were passing regularly and certainly at that time in the morning.

However, as stated she held for the defence in relation to the technical issue of the place being public and ruled that the State had not produced the necessary proofs in this regard.