Mechanic ordered to pay driver €20,000 after damaging rally car moments before Donegal race

Stephen Maguire

A motor mechanic has been ordered to pay a driver €20,000 after he admitted damaging a rally car just moments before it was due to take part in the Donegal International Rally.

John Crothers, a 66-year-old, admitted to damaging the car when he appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court.

The court heard how rally driver Richard Hall was due to compete in the Historics section of the rally in June 2022. However, while the Ford Escort car was parked in the service area at Ballyraine in Letterkenny, it was interfered with.

Crothers is accused that, without lawful excuse, he cut the fuel pump switch, the fan switch, three wires to the rev limiter and the safety switch of a Ford Escort belonging to Richard Hall, intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

Garda Maeve Logue outlined the details of the incident to state barrister Ms Fiona Crawford at the sentencing hearing.

The court heard the incident stemmed from claims by Crothers that Mr Hall owed him a sum of money from repairing a rally car some years ago, a debt he claimed was never paid.

Garda Logue told how she was in the service area on the morning of the rally, on June 18th, 2022, and was accompanied by Garda Sergeant Paul Wallace.

The court was told that Mr Hall was due to commence preparations for the race, but there was a man in the car and he was refusing to get out.

The driver told gardaí he knew who the man was and that he had threatened to damage his car if he didn't pay him the money that he owed him.

Gardaí also spoke to Declan Campbell, Mr Hall's co-driver, who said he saw a man in a dark coat with papers in his hand getting into the driver's seat of the rally car awkwardly.

When he looked closer into the car, he saw something in the car which looked like a kill switch.

Gardaí were called, and Crothers was identified and was found to have a 'snips' in his hand.

He was spoken to, arrested and then brought to Letterkenny Garda Station.

Crothers was interviewed but made no admissions, but was charged with criminal damage and a date was set for trial.

However, he later pleaded guilty and full details of the case were given at the sentencing hearing.

A victim impact statement was read out on behalf of the victim, Mr Hall, who was present in court for the hearing.

He outlined the incident on the day, which he said could have threatened his life and the life of his co-driver, adding that it continues to cause him a lot of anxiety and stress.

He said rallying was his passion, but that after this incident, he took some time away from the sport.

As a previous Irish historics champion, he decided to try to return to the sport and compete in the Manx Rally, but could not as his "confidence has crashed."

He said he now feels isolated and misses the many social links to the sport, which he said were a big part of his life.

Barrister for the accused, Mr Peter Nolan, BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Rory O'Brien, said his client had no previous convictions in either jurisdiction.

Mr Nolan gave a background to the case saying that his client had carried out some work on a rally car for Mr Hall but that the estimated bill for €3,800 was never paid.

The accused commenced legal proceedings but stopped them after being advised that even if they were paid it would be in small amounts.

"That's how we arrive at today," said Mr Nolan.

Judge John Aylmer said that he was not going to get into the matter or enter into the details of the cost of the damage.

In his statement, Crothers was asked if he regretted the incident. He replied he regretted that he got involved in the way he did, but added that he believed he was provoked into it.

When asked if he had anything to say to Mr Hall, the accused replied "I would prefer not to at this moment in time."

A video was played in court, which was taken by Crothers from inside Mr Hall's rally car, and a person could be heard saying "go on ahead, John, do as much damage as you want and see what kind of trouble you get into."

A probation report from the Northern Ireland authorities said this was a behaviour lapse and that Crothers had expressed genuine remorse and put him at a low risk of further offending.

Judge Aylmer said he was not going to pass sentence immediately. The case was adjourned for a year.