Conviction for careless driver spotted by off-duty garda in Cork

As garda approached a junction, she thought there was 'something on fire' due to the amount of smoke and then saw the rear of a BMW enter a main road at speed

Judge said she would 'somewhat reluctantly' reduce the charge from dangerous driving to careless driving. Picture: Dan Linehan

A motorist who pleaded guilty to careless driving was prosecuted after he was spotted by an off-duty garda, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Skibbereen District Court the garda was driving along the R593 from Skibbereen to Baltimore in her own private car on August 13, 2025, just after 10am. The court heard when she approached the junction with the L4204 at Bunlick, she observed a large amount of smoke at the junction ahead.

The court was told the garda at first thought there was “something on fire” due to the amount of smoke. As she got closer, she could see the rear of a blue BMW in the smoke that made a “sudden loop” at the junction as if the car was doing “donuts”.

The car entered the main road towards Baltimore at speed and stopped at some temporary traffic lights further on. The garda said the car was being driven by a male and there was a female passenger. She made a note of the vehicle’s details and lost sight of it after it drove off from the traffic lights.

The owner of vehicle was identified as 24-year-old Seins Vizulins, of Townsend Street, Skibbereen, Co Cork. Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said Vizulins was interviewed the following day and made admissions. 

Mr Murphy said Vizulins admitted coming out of the junction “hard” and accepted his driving was “not proper”. 

He said Vizulins was a welder fabricator and was highly regarded by his employer.

Mr Murphy asked the court to consider reducing the charge of dangerous driving to the lesser charge of careless driving given Vizulins had no previous convictions and needed his licence for work.

Judge Joanne Carroll said: “This was very bad driving with speed at a T-junction and a gross want of care.” 

She said she would agree to reduce the charge “somewhat reluctantly”, and convicted Vizulins of careless driving. He was also fined €450 and given four months to pay the fine.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme