Businessman got a ‘fright’ when pursued by gardai on busy Limerick road
A DERRY businessman “took a bit of a fright” in County Limerick when he was pursued by an unmarked patrol car as his home was subject to an arson attack from a “self-styled organisation”, Newcastle West Court heard.
Stephen Ryan, aged 54, of Creggan Road, Derry pleaded guilty to drink driving, careless driving and driving without a licence.
Garda Pauline Coughlan outlined to Judge Carol Anne Coolican that Mr Ryan was stopped at around 10am on September 18, 2021 at Anhid East, Croom, after complaints about the manner of his driving.
Mr Ryan failed a roadside breath test, was conveyed to Henry Street garda station where he had a reading of 30mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath. Garda Coughlan that Mr Ryan’s driving licence was out of date but has since been renewed.
Michael McAleer BL, who represented Mr Ryan, said his client had forgotten to renew his licence.
“He has been driving since he was 19 - he is 55 this month. It was due to the pressures of work and the Covid epidemic. He simply overlooked it,” said Mr McAleer.
The barrister said if Mr Ryan had his licence he may not have been before the court for the drink driving charge as “it was a low reading”.
“The careless driving refers to speed and overtaking manoeuvres. There were no aggravating factors - road conditions were good, it was a dual carriageway - but there is no excuse for excess speed. He was driving an expensive large vehicle. He apologises to the court,” said Mr McAleer.
Mr Ryan is a self-employed businessman who owns a factory in Derry, said Mr McAleer. “They are the sole importer of vapes. He was travelling in Limerick to sell them,” said Mr McAleer.
Mr McAleer said during Covid Mr Ryan’s company made hand sanitizers and other items to help combat the epidemic. The barrister said it was a cross-community endeavour which didn’t find favour with a “self-styled organisation”.
“There was an arson attack on his home. It was an unmarked patrol car that pursued him. He took a bit of a fright. The police service in Northern Ireland would have given this information to the authorities here,” said Mr McAleer.
Judge Coolican fined Mr Ryan €500 for drink driving and put him off the road for six months. The judge imposed a €500 fine for careless driving.
The driving licence charge was taken into consideration.