Leitrim teen fined over dangerous driving incident

A 19-year-old Leitrim man has been fined after a court heard he carried out a handbrake turn near a school, causing his vehicle to collide with railings.

Aaron Joseph Jordan, of Sheebeg, Keshcarrigan, Co Leitrim, appeared before Carrick-on-Shannon District Court in connection with a number of road traffic offences arising from the incident.

Giving evidence, Garda Fitzgerald told the court he observed a black Volkswagen Jetta perform a handbrake turn in the Fianna area, causing the driver to lose control before the vehicle rolled back and struck railings outside a school. Gardaí said the damage caused was minimal.

Mr Jordan was charged with failing to produce a driving licence, driving while holding a learner permit, driving without insurance, and failing to produce an NCT certificate.

The court heard that Mr Jordan had no previous convictions. Defence submissions indicated that insurance had been in place for part of the relevant period and that the vehicle had since been taken off the road.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said she was treating the matter seriously but was taking the defendant’s age and lack of previous convictions into account.

“This was dangerous driving behaviour and it could have ended very differently,” the judge said.

Judge Cunningham said she was exercising discretion on this occasion, warning the defendant to be careful in future.

“You are very young, and you need to understand that this type of behaviour on the road puts you and others at risk,” she said. “You are fortunate not to be facing more serious consequences.”

The judge convicted Mr Jordan and imposed fines totalling €500, with six months allowed to pay. She confirmed she was not imposing a driving disqualification on this occasion but warned that any further road traffic offences could result in more severe penalties.