Truck drivers remanded for 2 days

Three articulated truck drivers have been remanded in custody for two days at a Garda station following a complaint from a member of the public about a YouTube video in which they drove their huge trucks three abreast along the main Limerick to Tralee road last year.

Two Polish men and one Irishman, all employees of McAuliffe Trucking of Castleisland, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in what district court Judge James O’Connor described as a “scandalous” incident, regardless of the charitable motive involved.

Garda David Kearney told of how gardaí became aware of the incident when a member of the public, who saw the video on YouTube, complained to the Garda National Traffic Bureau.

Krzysztof Sokolowski, aged 33, of Main St, Castleisland, Lorcan Regan, aged 20, of Mein, Knocknagoshel, and Slawomir Kupiec, aged 36, of Clonough Drive, Limerick Rd, Castleisland, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Dooneen, Castleisland, on Oct 14, 2012.

Their solicitor, Padraig O’Connell, said they had carried out the enterprise for the Share a Dream children’s charity, and for Pieta House, the suicide charity, but admitted it could have been better organised.

After pleas from the solicitor, Judge O’Connor agreed to adjourn the matter to yesterday, but warned 14 days’ jail was what could be expected.

Mr O’Connell said he was offering €9,000, €3,000 per man “as a preemptive strike” on behalf of the men to the court poor box.

“They fully accept their culpability and as a result of mature reflection and my advice and the time you gave them, I am coming into court with a substantial contribution for the court poor box,” the solicitor said, adding that they agreed to spend two nights in a Garda station.

Judge O’Connor agreed to remand them overnight at Tralee Garda Station to appear at the district court in Tralee tomorrow.