Motorist who knocked down man loses appeal

A motorist has denied a dangerous-driving charge where a man claimed that the driver knocked him down by driving straight at him at speed.

However, the prosecution said that, unusually, the disputed event was caught on CCTV.

Jonathan Glavin, of 299, Cathedral Rd, Gurranabraher, Cork, appealed yesterday against a conviction for dangerous driving and the two-year driving ban that came with it from Cork district court.

Glavin denied driving at Alan O’Leary at the carpark outside a chemist on Courtown Drive, Knocknaheeny, Cork, on October 14, 2014.

Alan O’Dwyer, defending, said on his behalf at Cork Circuit Appeals Court yesterday that Mr O’Leary had a vendetta against Glavin.

Judge David Riordan heard the appeal yesterday and viewed the CCTV and said Mr O’Leary’s evidence was correct.

He said that although there was no evidence of assault, the dangerous driving was tantamount to using the car as an instrument of assault.

He affirmed the order of the district court, whereby Glavin was banned from driving for two years on the dangerous driving charge, and fined him €500.

Fines totalling €600 were also affirmed on three charges related to his failure to remain at the scene of an accident.