Mayo man's offence described as 'at the upper end of careless driving'

A Ballina man has been convicted of careless driving after he drove at speed through a town centre and refused to stop for gardaí.

Nathan Massey, aged 29, of Orchard Court, Ballina, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Ballina District Court.

Garda Rebecca Fearon told the court that she was on duty at Lord Edward Street in Ballina at 12.30 a.m. on October 8, 2024.

A vehicle was stopped at the traffic lights at Bury Street when she saw another car approach the lights at speed.

She feared the approaching car, which was being driven by Massey, was not going stop.

Garda Fearon said the defendant's car turned at the traffic lights and she pursued the vehicle onto Teeling Street.

Massey’s car failed to stop after Garda Fearon activated the flashing blue lights on the garda car and instead drove at speed onto Pound Street and into Orchard Court where it stopped in a driveway.

The court was told that Massey has one previous conviction.

Judge Murphy described the offence as being “at the upper end of careless driving."

The judge imposed a €350 fine and a two-year driving disqualification.

* Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.