West Cork motorist fined after driving through stop sign and crashing into porch of a property

The judge said the driver was fully insured, accepted responsibility and had simply suffered a lapse of concentration 

The defendant drove through a stop sign and struck the property opposite, causing significant damage to the porch. File picture

A Timoleague driver who crashed through a stop sign and into the patio and porch of a home, causing €65,000 in damage, has been fined €200. 

Nicholas Lombard, aged 44, of Skeaf West, Clogagh, Timoleague, pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to careless driving.

The court heard a single-vehicle collision occurred at about 9pm on December 26, 2025, at a crossroads on Barryshall Road near Timoleague. 

Lombard drove through a stop sign and struck the property opposite, causing significant damage to the porch. 

Nobody was injured and the damage was covered by Lombard’s insurance, the court heard.

Lombard had initially faced charges of dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene. 

The facts of the dangerous driving charge were admitted. 

His solicitor Carl O’Mahony told the court that Lombard left his details at the scene but went to inform the owner of the work vehicle he had been driving about what had happened. The vehicle remained at the scene.

Judge Joanne Carroll said Lombard had informed the injured party, left his details and was known to neighbours living near the property. She struck out the charge of failing to remain at the scene.

The judge said Lombard was fully insured, accepted responsibility and had simply suffered a lapse of concentration. 

He had no previous convictions. 

She reduced the dangerous driving charge to careless driving, convicted Lombard and fined him €200, allowing four months to pay.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme