Young motorist avoids ban after ‘careless’ manoeuvre on busy Limerick road

A YOUNG motorist who performed a “careless” manoeuvre on one of the busiest roads in Limerick, has avoided a driving ban.
Justin Casey, aged 22, of Singland Park, Limerick city, appeared before Newcastle West District Court charged with dangerous driving under Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.

Outlining the facts, Inspector Gearóid Thompson told the court that on August 4, 2024, Mr Casey was driving on the N20 road near Anhid, Croom when, at approximately 3.30pm, he overtook two cars at speed in a single manoeuvre.

The incident was reported by two sisters, who were driving separately in the overtaken cars.

The court heard that the women contacted gardai as they believed Mr Casey, who was driving a red Volkswagen Golf, was going too fast and that the manoeuvre shouldn’t have been allowed.

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Whilst gardaí had no evidence of speeding, Inspector Thompson told the court that the N20 was “quite a busy road” and that the traffic was “relatively slow moving” at the time.

Solicitor Julianne Kiely, representing the accused, said that her client accepted that he had been “somewhat careless” on the day of the incident.

As a result, she said he was pleading guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving, under Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. The court heard that Mr Casey had apologised to the women involved in the incident.

Ms Kiely said that her client had “been through quite a lot” in his young life so far.

In recent years, he was diagnosed with leukemia and is currently undergoing treatment. She told Judge Carol Ann Coolican that he also had a full hip replacement last year.

Ms Kiely told the court that Mr Casey has to regularly travel up and down to Dublin for medical appointments.

The diagnosis has forced him to put his education on hold, although he has plans to start an apprenticeship and to eventually become an electrician.

After formally convicting Mr Casey, Judge Coolican told Mr Casey that he “needs to slow down”.

Exercising her discretion, she decided against imposing a disqualification, instead fining the accused €400.

While not a matter for the court, he will also receive penalty points on his licence.