A slash hook found in the boot of a young man’s car was for clearing hedges in a field where he kept ponies, he told Gardaí.
Jamie Ward of 9 Meadowbrook, Ballinasloe, came before the local District Court on a series of charges, mostly relating to his reckless and dangerous driving in or near Ballinasloe.
Judge Faughnan said the town was “blighted” by this sort of driving and the message had to go out that it wouldn’t be tolerated, before putting Ward off the road for two years.
Garda Connolly of the Roads Policing Unit gave evidence of encountering Ward in a grey VW Passat at the Garbally roundabout. He saw two vehicles travelling at speed. He signalled Ward to stop, but instead Ward entered the roundabout and travelled around in the wrong direction and left it on the wrong side. He was pursued and stopped by the Garda.
Sometime later Ward was stopped in the same car, speeding around the centre of Ballinasloe. He failed to stop when Gardaí indicated him to do so and was brought to a halt after a pursuit.
The defendant was again stopped in the same VW Passat on August 15 last, and when the car was searched by Gardaí a slash hook was found in the boot. Ward admitted it was his.
His solicitor pleaded that his client was facing up to his actions. He is 18 and was just too young to have a car at the times referred to. He was sorry for the recklessness he displayed while behind the wheel.
As for the slash hook, he had only purchased it the day before to cut back hedges in a field where ponies were kept.
He now accepted fully that his driving was dangerous and reckless and had completed a social driving course.
But Judge Faughnan was not convinced. “This town is blighted by people doing what they like in cars, speeding and putting others in danger. The message has to go out that this will not be tolerated,” he said, before imposing a two-year driving disqualification and a €500 fine.
