Cork fisherman who crashed into oncoming car while on wrong side of road convicted of dangerous driving

Court heard other motorist flashed her lights and beeped the horn to try to warn the defendant, but he did not alter course and crashed into her car

The incident occurred in Castletownbere on January 13. Picture: File pan Linehan

A fisherman who was driving on the wrong side of the road when he crashed his vehicle into a car coming in the opposite direction has been convicted of dangerous driving in the district court.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told Bantry District Court gardaí were called to a road traffic accident at Foildarrig, Castletownbere, Co Cork, on January 13, 2025 at 6.15pm. 

When they arrived at the scene, a Volvo car with extensive damage to its front end was stationary on the wrong side of the road facing Castletownbere. Another vehicle was stopped further up the road and the occupants were standing by the car.

The driver of the Volvo identified as 42-year-old Damian Healy, of The Oval, Eyeries, Co Cork, was still sitting in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition and the engine running. 

Healy appeared to be under the influence by gardaí and he was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and taken to Bantry Garda Station. A blood test carried out at the Garda station indicated Healy had a blood alcohol level of 235mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood where the legal limit is 50mg.

A statement was taken from the driver of the other vehicle, who said the Volvo was approaching her on the wrong side of the road. The court heard the motorist flashed her lights and beeped the horn to try to warn the Volvo driver, but a collision could not be avoided and the Volvo did not alter course and crashed into the other car.

The court was told Healy had two previous convictions, including one for drink driving in 2011. The court also heard he was convicted of driving while unfit in Northern Ireland for an offence in December 2024.

Defence solicitor Colette McCarthy said Healy had issues with drink in the past but had been working on fishing boats for a number of years and had not come to Garda attention. 

She said her client, who was not in court because he was at sea, was fully cooperative, was “holding his hands up,” made full admissions and wanted the deal with the matter.

Ms McCarthy said the incident and the one in Northern Ireland had happened within a short space of time and Healy had “broken out” in regard to his alcohol problem at that time. 

She said Healy was fully insured and she asked Judge Joanne Carroll to consider reducing the charge of dangerous driving to the lesser charge of careless driving.

Judge Carroll said Healy was a mature man and this was his third drink-driving incident, including the one in Northern Ireland. She said the other driver was flashing her lights at him and beeping the horn and he still crashed into her. 

The judge said in those circumstances she would have to convict Healy of dangerous driving. For dangerous driving, he was convicted and disqualified from driving for two years. For drink-driving, he was convicted and disqualified for three years.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme