Driver crashed into petrol station in Maganey causing huge damage
The driver's solicitor said the defendant had 'a lot on his mind' at the time
A DRIVER who crashed into a petrol station and caused thousands of euros worth of damage was given a custodial sentence and put off the road for two years when he appeared before a recent sitting of Carlow District Court. David Miller, Tankardstown, Ballylinan, Co Laois had pleaded guilty in an earlier court sitting to dangerous driving and to causing criminal damage at the Three Counties Service Station, Maganey on 7 June.
In court, solicitor Alex Rafter said that 56-year-old Mr Miller had “a lot on his mind” at the time of the accident. He continued that he’d been driving his wife’s automatic car days before the incident and “made a mistake” on the day of the accident when he was driving a company van.
Judge Geraldine Carthy was told that Mr Miller had three previous convictions, including two for dangerous driving and one for careless driving, and that €15,000 worth of damage had been caused in the accident.
Judge Carthy noted that Mr Miller’s van had come through a stop sign and crashed into one of the petrol pumps, causing “serious damage” underground.
She also noted that the sentencing had been adjourned to see if Mr Miller’s employer would pay for the damage, “but that didn’t happen”. She said that it merited a custodial sentence and sentenced him to eight months in prison, while also disqualifying him for two years.
