‘Close calls’ for drivers after man drove Mercedes wrong way down motorway

A garda told a court there were “a number of close calls” for motorists who avoided colliding with a Cork man driving his Mercedes the wrong way down motorway lanes linking Limerick to Ennis.

At Ennis District Court yesterday, Judge Patrick Durcan told the Mercedes driver, Patrick Cotter, 54, of Church St, Bandon, Co Cork, he faces 18 months in jail unless he can convince the court he has entered a strict, disciplined medical regime.

In evidence, Garda John Reidy said there were three episodes of Mr Cotter driving against traffic on the wrong side of the motorway on June 18 last.

He said: “There were a number of close calls judge.”

Mr Cotter had pleaded guilty to six charges of dangerous driving along a 41km stretch of motorway from Cratloe to Crusheen.

Warnings were broadcast on Clare FM on the morning of the incident advising motorists that there was a driver driving the wrong direction on the south-bound and north-bound lanes linking Limerick to Ennis.

At the time of the incident, Mr Cotter was banned from driving after receiving a 30-year driving ban in 2012, and his 208 previous convictions include 19 offences for drink-driving and nine hit-and-run offences.

Yesterday in court, Judge Durcan told the accused: “Mr Cotter I am going to sentence you to 18 months in jail. That is my order but I am going to withhold making that order provided I am satisfied you enter into a strict disciplinary medical regime of psychiatric treatment.”

Judge Durcan said that he was adjourning the case to January where he wanted Mr Cotter’s GP to attend.

He said: “I require medical evidence to satisfy myself that what is proposed is real, sustainable and performable by you.”