Man gets driving ban after speeding 'aggressively' from Gardai

A Cloghan man who sped away from Gardai while officers stood at his car door has been put off the road.

Caolan Marley was before Letterkenny District Court on charges arising out of an incident at Curraghmone, Ballybofey, on February 8, 2021.

Gardai received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area. They subsequently stopped a Renault Megane being driven by Marley, a 29-year-old of Station House, Cloghaun.

Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that Marley sped off ‘aggressively’ with Gardai standing beside the door. Marley made off at high speed and Sergeant Collins said Gardai did not follow him as it would have presented a danger.

Marley was charged with dangerous driving and also faced a charge of driving without insurance.

Solicitor for Marley, Mr Frank Dorrian, said he was not making an application to have a dangerous driving charge reduced to one of careless driving.

Mr Dorrian said his client is a 29-year-old factory worker who is a single parent.

“The facts speak for themselves,” Mr Dorrian said. “The no insurance has made a bad situation worse.”

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham convicted Marley. For dangerous driving, Marley was disqualified from driving for two years and fined €150. A two-year disqualification was also imposed for driving without insurance, with Marley also fined €200 for this offence. The disqualifications are to run concurrently.