Trim District Court heard that a 36 year-old man from Navan turned back and drove the wrong way on the M3 when an accident caused the closure of the motorway. The incident which occurred during the height of Covid lockdown was recalled on Thursday last when Craig Keogh of Oakleigh, Old Balreask Woods appeared charged with dangerous driving at Lismullen on May 1 2020. His barrister James O’Brien said the defendant claimed that his action was careless rather than dangerous.
The defendant explained that he was under pressure at the time and wasn’t thinking straight. He admitted driving the wrong way, but said he was travelling slowly with his hazard lights on on the hard shoulder. He decided to turn round and go back to a prior exit. He met one vehicle– a jeep which was stationary on the hard shoulder with a lady driver.
Garda Linzi Martin said she and a colleague were alerted at 8pm to a serious single vehicle collision between junctions 6 and 7. She told that vehicles on the motorway were flashing lights and honking at the car travelling in the wrong direction. The offending car stopped in front of her patrol car. She arrested and brought the defendant to Ashbourne Garda Station.
Judge Eirinn McKiernan convicted the defendant of the dangerous driving charge. She was told that the defendant had 21 previous convictions, none for road traffic offences. He was serving a sentence and due for release in September. Mr O’Brien said the defendant always accepted the facts only that he felt it was careless driving.
Judge McKiernan imposed a six months sentence on the defendant which she suspended for 18 months. She disqualified him from driving for two years. She fixed recognisance for appeal of self €200 and independent of €500 cash to be lodged.
