07-08-2025
Motorist jailed for two years for causing horror crash that left car sliding on its roof
Peter Mohan, Rathkeelan Park, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh, pleaded guilty to a charge of endangerment stemming from a collision on the Castleblayney Road out of Dundalk, at Annavackey, Hackballscross, on November 2, 2023.
The defendant has a previous conviction for dangerous driving causing death for which he received a jail sentence and disqualification.
The impact in question occurred on a blind hillcrest and evidence was heard that the drivers only saw each other at the last second, with Mr Mohan on the wrong side of the road.
Judge Dara Hayes said that he had been driving 'substantially in excess of the 80kmh speed limit'.
The other driver had no time to react after the defendant overtook two other vehicles on a stretched of road governed by a double continuous white line.
The car he struck overturned on the road and its driver was injured. He was taken to hospital.
The defendant couldn't remember what happened after waking up in Newry's Daisy Hill Hospital.
Judge Hayes said there was no explanation for his driving as he came home from work in Wexford. It was clearly a serious offence. In any sense, 'highly dangerous driving'.
There were four previous convictions, including for dangerous driving causing death for which an 18-month sentence and eight-year disqualification was imposed at Monaghan Circuit Court in 2002.
The judge said these were relevant previous convictions.
A three-year sentence was imposed, the final 12 months suspended for 12 months post release. Mr Mohan was disqualified from driving for five years.
A charge of dangerous driving was taken into consideration.
At a previous sentence hearing, Gda Bernard Keown testified that a Volkswagen Passat containing two people was travelling from Crossmaglen to Dundalk at 7.40pm when the driver saw lights coming towards him.
He attempted to swerve but was hit by a Vauxhall Insignia driven by the accused. The Passat flipped and came to a stop in the middle of the road. His passenger got out and after crawling into the back of the car, the driver was able to get out through the same passenger door.
The Insignia was 'propelled' into a field.
Another driver gave a statement about Mr Mohan's car 'overtaking aggressively' forcing him into evasive action by slowing to make space so that there was no head-on collision.
A different man, behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Caddy, said that the Insignia overtook him at such speed his van 'shook'. He estimated it was doing 'over 100mph'.
Mr Mohan was not at the scene when gardaí arrived having been taken to Daisy Hill Hospital by a car which pulled up. He was discharged the next morning.
Gda Keown said that a blood sample taken from the Insignia matched the DNA of Mr Mohan.
He went to Dundalk Garda Station by arrangement and in an interview said that he couldn't remember what happened.
He had turned off the M1 alone in his father's car, a journey he made four or five times a week.
It was stated on the defendant's behalf that he wanted to apologise. He co-operated.
Letters from two physicians treating Mr Mohan's family were handed into court, as well as notes from him and his partner.
Their daughter had significant difficulties and health challenges and he was actively involved in looking after her.
