Mayo driver who abandoned uninsured car and ran into field is put off road for two years

A DRIVER who abandoned his car and ran into a field to escape being caught by a garda has been banned from driving for two years.

Shane O’Grady (32), Bunowen, Louisburgh, failed to appear before Judge Sandra Murphy at Castlebar Court on charges of driving without tax or insurance.

He was also charged with having no driving licence and failing to produce a driving licence.

In total, the defendant was fined €1,100, including €350 for having no insurance and a further €350 for having no tax on the car along with €250 for having no driving licence and a further €150 for failing to produce a driving licence.

Garda Ray Guilfoyle told the court he was driving from Louisburgh to Westport on the afternoon of October 19, 2023, when he noticed a car about to exit the exit from Berta Beach onto the main road.

As he passed the car, Garda Guilfoyle noticed there was no evidence of any paperwork visible on the windscreen of the vehicle to indicate it was taxed or insured.

He turned his car and went back in the direction of where he had first spotted the car and then noticed the car take off at speed.

The driver stopped the car at Murrisk and then took off into a field.

“I searched the field but failed to locate him,” said the witness.

Garda Guilfoyle later contacted the driver of the car by phone and arranged to meet him.

“He denied he was driving the car and claimed it had been stolen,” said Garda Guilfoyle, who added that the abandoned car was seized.

He could not say if the car had been repossessed by the owner but added that the defendant had admitted he was the owner of the car but had failed to register it in his name.

The tax on the vehicle had been out since December 31, 2020.

The court was told that the defendant, who was aged 32, had no previous convictions.

Mr. Gary Mulchrone, solicitor for the defendant, said he had made several attempts to contact his client, but had received no response to four notifications he had sent to him.

Garda Inspector Maria Diffily said the case was listed to proceed, and it was obvious the defendant was avoiding a court appearance as he had made no contact with his solicitor or the gardaí in relation to the matter before the court.

* Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.