Two year driving disqualification overturned in Carrick-on-Shannon Circuit Court

A District Court appeal case was successful in Carrick-on-Shannon Circuit Court last week, when Judge John Aylmer removed a two year driving disqualification order from a driving conviction.
Conor Harrison, 5 Hillside View, Killargue, Co Leitrim was charged with no insurance, dangerous driving and no NCT at Barraghmore, Drumkeerin on October 15, 2020.

Solicitor Martin Burke outlined to the court that Mr Harrison had been convicted, fined €100 for no insurance and also fined €100 plus a two year driving disqualification for dangerous driving in Carrick-on-Shannon District Court.
His client was appealing the severity of the driving disqualification.
Mr Burke said Mr Harrison had wished to plead guilty to a reduced charge of careless driving on the date of the District Court hearing but Judge Patricia Cronin would not reduce it.

Garda Redican gave evidence and outlined that on the above date Michael Rogan, a school-bus driver, was driving the bus when he met Conor Harrison driving his father’s jeep.
Mr Rogan said Mr Harrison came down the hill “too fast” and stopped 2-3 yards from the bus. Mr Rogan took out his phone and recorded Mr Harrison reverse the jeep “blindly” and at speed back up the hill and round the bend.
Mr Rogan made a statement to gardai and was present in court.
The video clip recorded on Mr Rogan's phone was shown in court.
Judge John Aylmer asked for clarity on whether the dangerous driving was for the speed downhill or reversing up the hill. Garda Redican answered that it was a combination of the two.

Mr Rogan told Gardai where he saw the jeep parked up at the defendant's father’s farm.
Garda Redican said he saw the jeep there and noticed CCTV cameras at the shed. He said the jeep was registered to Frank Harrison, 10 Sheena, Drumkeerin.
Garda Redican made “several attempts” to contact Frank Harrison as Conor was only 17-years-old at the time.
Garda Redican said he went to the home of Frank Harrison and met with Kevin Harrison, the defendant’s uncle.
Kevin Harrison said he was the legal guardian of Conor.
Garda Redican asked for Conor Harrison to produce his driver's licence and insurance. Conor Harrison asked the garda what day the incident of complaint took place and when told, replied, “I was in school that day”, before Kevin Harrison said, “No, you weren’t in school, you were isolating.”

Garda Redican said he attempted to caution Conor Harrison but Kevin Harrison kept interrupting. No documents were produced to Gardai.
Mr Burke said his client is dependent on his driver's licence to attend Teagasc Agricultural College in Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, which is a one hour commute daily. He also noted that a driver's licence is a requirement of the course.
Judge Aylmer said while he was satisfied the defendant was driving too fast, he noted that he “didn’t collide” as he reversed up the hill and around the bend.
He added that Mr Harrison was familiar with the road, had a driver's licence for a tractor and had reversed back so the larger vehicle, the school bus, would not need to on the narrow road.

He stated, “I can’t hold his legal guardian or his father’s behaviour against him.”
Judge Aylmer said he was satisfied to deal with the charge as careless driving. He removed the driving disqualification and reaffirmed the fines that were imposed in the District Court.