Cork man left upturned car on Schull Main Street and went home

Defendant had been very tired after a long day of work and had 'nodded off' at the wheel, court told

The incident occurred on Main Street, Schull, at 12.45am on October 8. File picture: Larry Cummins

A man who crashed his car in a Cork town and left it on its roof on the main street told the district court he had fallen asleep at the wheel and walked home following the incident.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told Bantry District Court a single vehicle road traffic accident occurred on Main Street, Schull, Co Cork, at 12.45am on October 8, 2025.

When gardaí arrived at the scene, they found a vehicle on Main Street on its roof blocking the road. Two nearby parked cars had also sustained damage. There was nobody present with the upturned car and the driver had not reported the incident, the court heard.

Later that same day, 21-year-old Patsy Murphy of Colla, Schull, Co Cork, presented himself to Schull Garda Station and admitted he was the driver and owner of the vehicle involved in the accident.

He was charged with dangerous driving, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, failing to report an occurrence, and failing to give appropriate information. The court heard Murphy’s documents were all in order and he had no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said his client was an apprentice welder who was near the completion of his apprenticeship and worked locally in Schull. He said on the day in question, Murphy had gone to work at 6am and after work had gone to friends in Ballydehob to help with welding a trailer.

He said Murphy left his friends after midnight to head home and was very tired after the long day. The court heard when Murphy reached Main Street in Schull, he “nodded off” resulting in the accident that overturned his vehicle.

The court was told Murphy walked home to Colla following the incident and went to the Garda station later, where he made full admissions and apologised for the “grief he had caused”. 

The court was told Murphy’s insurance covered the damage to the other cars and his own premium had now increased to €3,600 per year as a result.

Judge Joanne Carroll said Murphy had “clearly lost control of the vehicle for whatever reason, tiredness or otherwise”. 

She agreed to reduce the dangerous driving charge to the lesser charge of careless driving “just about”, as Murphy was a young man with no previous convictions and a good work ethic.

Murphy was convicted of careless driving and fined €225. For failing to remain at the scene, the Probation Act was applied and the other two charges were struck out.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme