Dunkineely resident fined for driving without due care or attention

A Dunkineely resident was fined €200 for driving a vehicle without due care or attention after another vehicle was damaged at Mart Road, Dunkineely, on June 22, 2024.

Nigel Weir, 49, of Main Street, Dunkineely, was given five months to pay the fine, but Judge Éiteáin Cunningham did not disqualify Weir from driving, at a hearing at Donegal District Court held in Ballyshannon Courthouse. 

Judge Cunningham also took into consideration that Weir drove a vehicle involved in the occurrence of damage to the property, other than that of himself, the car’s wing mirror, and not having given the appropriate information to a person entitled to such information, and failing to report the said occurrence, contrary to Section 106 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.

Weir was found contrary to Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (as substituted by Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act (No 2) Act 2011.

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Solicitor Jim Corbett told the court that Weir had no previous convictions and was going through a difficult period at the time of the incident. 

Corbett said: “He is a 49-year-old gentleman who has never come to this position before. He was somewhat preoccupied. 

“The damage was minor to the other car. There was no damage at all to my client’s vehicle whatsoever. 

Judge Cunningham replied: “What concerns me is that he did stop and get out to look at the vehicle so that doesn’t correlate.”

Corbett responded: “He did pay. He has never come to the attention of An Garda Síochána.”

In giving her decision, Judge Cunningham said: “I have huge sympathy. I extend my condolences, but I have to, however, deal with what is before me.

“I am going to factor that all in.”