A YOUNG driver who panicked and drove away from a crash when the other party said he was calling the guards had another crash just four months later, a court heard.
Ricky Houlihan (20) of Mullally Grove in Cappamore pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after he was involved in a two-car collision on March 14, 2022.
His solicitor told Judge Patricia Harney in Kilmallock District Court that the young man was on his first driving permit at the time and “panicked”, driving off before the Gardaí arrived and failing to give his details to the other driver.
The solicitor said that Houlihan’s mother had paid €1,000 to the injured party, which covered the cost of the damage.
“He was 18 at the time and was paying €3,900 for his insurance,” the solicitor said.
Mr Houlihan was involved in another crash four months later, but the damage to the other car was slight and was covered by insurance, the Judge heard.
After being told that Mr Houlihan had no previous convictions, Judge Harney said that he was “starting at the higher end”, adding that “for such a young driver, he’s already had two crashes”.
The Judge said she would give him credit for the fact that the other driver had been compensated and that he met the matters with a guilty plea.
She fined him a total of €700 for four offences relating to the two incidents.
