Man linked to a crash in Louth after his blood was found at the scene

A 45-year-old linked to a crash on the N53 in Louth after his blood was found at the scene, has been jailed for three and a half years at Dundalk Circuit Court for endangerment.

Peter Mohan with an address at Rathkeelan Park, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh admitted overtaking traffic on the wrong side of the road, on the crest of a hill at Annaghvackey, Hackballscross on November 2nd 2023.

The sentencing hearing in June was told two men who were travelling to DkIT, had seen headlights coming towards them on the wrong side of the road, before the car flipped, slid along the road and ended up in a field.

The driver, who crawled out after a man had helped the passenger out of the Vauxhall Insignia, was treated in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital for cuts to his head and knuckles, and bruising to his legs and arms and where the seat belt had been.

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Other witnesses told gardaí the defendant had been driving aggressively and had not pulled back, with one motorist slowing down to try and make space to avoid a head on collision.

Another told how the speed Mohan was driving at had shook his van as it passed.

The court was told a Volkswagen Golf pulled up and an obviously distraught man got in and it drove off.

The defendant presented at Daisy Hill hospital in Newry for treatment and his DNA was linked to blood samples on the armrest of his car.

He had four previous convictions, including handling stolen property and careless driving, and in 2002 was sentenced to 18 months at Monaghan Circuit Court, and banned from driving for eight years, for dangerous driving causing death.

The Senior Defence Counsel said his client had told gardaí he had left the M1 at J17 and his next memory was being in hospital.

He added he drives for a living and was on his way home from Wexford when the collision occurred, and he was clearly driving at a grossly excessive speed and took an appalling risk which he accepts he shouldn't have.

The court was told his client has a daughter with significant health challenges, with letters handed in from treating physicians.

In finalising the matter last Wednesday, Judge Dara Hayes imposed a four and a half year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on the defendant entering a good behaviour bond. He also disqualified him from driving for five years.