Show-off teen driver ‘nearly crashed into a Garda car’

A TEENAGER who was showing off to his friends in a souped-up, boy racer-type car almost crashed into a Garda patrol car, a court heard.

Dermot O’Brien, aged 19, of 9 Lower Convent Hill, Bandon, in Co Cork, pleaded guilty before Bandon District Court last Friday to a charge of careless driving at Ballylangley, Bandon, on December 11 last.

The court heard that O’Brien drove his car out of a petrol station and onto the main road at speed that night.

Gardaí were driving towards Innishannon in a marked car when O’Brien’s car swung across the road into their path.

O’Brien apparently lost control of the vehicle momentarily during the exiting manoeuvre. He battled with the steering wheel and straightened quickly to get back onto the correct side of the road.

However, the driver of the Garda car had to brake suddenly and pull his steering wheel to the left to avoid a collision. The Garda car swerved off the road and both cars missed each other by inches.

O’Brien was arrested at the scene and was charged with careless driving. The court was told that O’Brien, an apprentice plasterer, had several friends in the car with him that night.

His act of driving at speed out of the petrol station was an act of bravado in front of his friends, Judge James McNulty was told.

Judge McNulty said it was unfortunate for O’Brien that he had come to the attention of the gardaí in this fashion.

The judge asked what type of car he was driving now and O’Brien told him he had bought a new car — a small Toyota Starlet.

Judge McNulty adjourned the case to a September 5, 2008, sitting of Bandon Court for review.

He said if O’Brien did not come to the attention of the gardaí in the meantime, he would consider reducing the charge of careless driving to a lesser charge.