Professional truck driver totalled car on busy Limerick road

A TRUCK driver was fined in Limerick City District Court for causing a collision on Junction 28 on the N7, Limerick.

John Murray, 65, with a home address at Ballycar Road, Newmarket, Clare, crashed into a car with his truck, which lifted the vehicle into the air while two people were inside on April 3, 2025.

Garda evidence detailed that he “came over on the fast lane at speed”,

At the time, Garda Pauline Coughlan was directing traffic due to a bog fire that had broken out nearby.

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Garda Coughlan said that when Mr Murray was driving he turned and lacked observation. The garda said that the truck Mr Murray drove was “huge”, and that she “saw the speeding myself”.

The court heard that the collision left a small dent in the truck, but the car that was hit had to be written off. Garda Coughlan said the man “gave the pair quite a fright”.

Solicitor Darach McCarthy, defending Mr Murray, said that his client is a professional driver working for the OPW.

Mr McCarthy refuted that Mr Murray was speeding, and said this element of the case was “in dispute”.

The court heard that the man was doing a speed of 80km, but his speed was not officially measured during the incident.

Judge Patricia Harney said that Mr Murray could have a hearing if the details of the case were contested.

“Either you’re pleading guilty or you’re not”, the judge commented.

Judge Harney convicted Mr Murray of careless driving, and fined him €500.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme