Cork man drove off after crashing into parked car in hotel car park

A Cork man who crashed his SUV into a parked car in a West Cork hotel car park and drove off has been convicted and fined in the district court.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court that David Beechinor, aged 35, of Carhoogariffe, Clonakilty, Co Cork, was driving his grey Toyota Land Cruiser in the car park of Fernhill House Hotel in Clonakilty at 12.45am on June 29, 2024.

The court heard Beechinor’s SUV collided with a blue Ford Focus car that was parked in car park. The rear driver’s side of the Land Cruiser hit the door of the car but Beechinor did not remain at the scene and drove off and he did not report the incident later either. 

The matter was investigated by gardaí and Beechinor was identified as the driver of the Land Cruiser.

Defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said his client was not aware he had damaged the other vehicle and there was no damage to his own vehicle. He said the injured party was paid more than €2,000 to cover the damage and Beechinor was fully cooperative as soon as he became aware of the situation. 

Mr Taaffe said his client was a hardworking, self-employed farmer who “owned up immediately” when he discovered what had happened.

Judge Joanne Carroll said it was “puzzling” how Beechinor would not have realised he collided with the other car. She said she would have two convict him but as he had no previous convictions she would convict him of the single charge of failing to keep a vehicle at the scene under Section 106 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. 

Beechinor was also fined €125 and allowed three months to pay the fine.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme