By Ronan Judge

A judge has told a Galway man who caused a two vehicle collision as he tried to pick up his phone after dropping it, there can be “no distractions anymore” when he is behind the wheel.

Judge Adrian Harris issued the warning to Finian Cronin (20) and told him the court hopes he has learned his lesson.

At Galway District Court, Cronin, with an address at Cloonfane, Garrafrauns, Tuam. pleaded guilty to careless driving at Claregalway on July 29, 2024.

Inspector John Moloney told the court the defendant was driving from Ballybrit in the direction of Claregalway when it appeared he dropped his mobile phone.

As he attempted to pick it up, the car veered across the road and collided with another vehicle.

Insp Moloney said there was extensive damage to both vehicles and while the injured party was hospitalised, there was no lasting damage.

The court heard Cronin was tested at the roadside and returned a negative result.

Defence solicitor, Sean Acton said his client accepted the accident was his fault and a personal injury claim was currently being resolved by the insurance company.

Mr Acton said that on the day in question, Cronin had just finished his first twelve-hour shift working at the Galway Races and was on his way home.

Dspite living close to the area, his client was using the SatNav, dropped it and was reaching around for the phone prior to the accident occurring.

Mr Acton asked the court, in light of the guilty plea and good record, not to impose a disqualification.

Insp Moloney said the accused did offer an apology through Gardaí to the other driver.

Judge Adrian Harris told the accused that the next time SatNav went astray, to leave it.

“Your attention cannot be diverted from the road for one second. I hope you have leaned your lesson,” he added.

Judge Harris fined Cronin €800 and said the court would not disqualify him from driving on the basis the court trusted he had learned his lesson.

He said: “No distractions anymore. When you are driving there can’t be any distractions or things like this can happen”.

■ Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.