‘Lodger’ spared ban after crashing housemate’s car

February 24, 2021

A MAN who crashed his housemate’s car, which he took without the owner’s consent, has avoided a driving disqualification.

Dariusz Sikorski (39) of The Crescent Buncrana was before Buncrana District Court charged with taking possession of a mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner, Paul Doyle.

Sikorski was also on a charge of driving without insurance and for a failure to produce a valid driving licence and certificate of insurance.

A garda witness gave evidence of arresting Sikorski on foot of a warrant on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 8.15pm.

Sikorski was arrested for an alleged breach of bail conditions.

Defence solicitor Patsy Gallagher applied for the court to refuse the application for the breach of bail. Mr Gallagher said that there was an issue regarding Sikorski’s sobriety but that he was at a property other than that at which he was to reside ‘only once’. “There are no other offences before the court,” Mr Gallagher said, inviting the court to finalise the matter.

At approximately 2:50pm on March 29, 2019, Gardaí attended the scene of a road traffic collision at Main Street Buncrana.

Sikorski was driving one of the vehicles and a lawful demand was made for the production of documentation.

The owner of the vehicle, Paul Doyle, attended Buncrana Garda Station on April 19, 2019 and said he had given Sikorski no permission to drive the vehicle.

Doyle, who was living in the same house as Sikorski, had left the vehicle and the keys unattended at Main Street, Buncrana, while he went to collect food. In a statement to Gardaí, Doyle described Sikorski as a ‘lodger’.

Mr Gallagher said Sikorski and Doyle had known each other ‘for a long time’ and pointed out that Sikorski had been located this week by Gardaí at Doyle’s premises.

‘Minimal’ damage was caused to the vehicle, the Court was told.

“Dariusz is coming 40 years of age and has some English,” Mr Gallagher said.

“We may never get to the bottom of this. Dariusz has certainly had substantial issues with alcohol for a number of years. He has been in Ireland for several years and has no previous convictions.”

Judge Paul Kelly fined Sikorski €200 for taking the vehicle without the owner’s consent.

For driving without insurance, Sikorski was also fined €200, but was spared a disqualification.

In respect of each fine, Sikorski was given six months to pay, while the non-production charges were struck out,


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