Crash left toddler (2) inside over-turned car
A DANGEROUS driver crashed into a car with a couple and their two-year-old child inside, leaving it over-turned on the road as he ran off, a court heard.
Paul O'Reilly (31) was speeding when he hit the other car on a roundabout outside a Dublin shopping centre.
The couple and child were taken to hospital but did not suffer any serious injuries.
Judge David McHugh adjourned sentencing in O'Reilly's case at Blanchardstown District Court. O'Reilly, with an address at Foxdene Green, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene of an accident, or give appropriate information.
He also admitted uninsured driving in the the incident at Fonthill Road, Clondalkin on December 31, 2014.
Sgt Mary Doherty told the court gardai were called to the scene of a serious accident on the day in question.
When they arrived, the officers found one car, a Hyundai, lying upside down on the road.
The occupants - a man and woman and a two-year-old child - were awaiting treatment by ambulance crew.
They were taken to St James's Hospital and Crumlin Children's Hospital for treatment but had only minor injuries.
The other car was also at the scene and the driver had run off.
The accused was the boyfriend of the owner of the car and gardai established that he had been driving it when the accident happened.
CCTV footage obtained from Liffey Valley Shopping Centre showed the accused had been driving at speed onto the roundabout before he crashed straight into the other car.
The court heard O'Reilly - who had been under a suspended sentence - went voluntarily to the gardai and made a statement.
Judge McHugh said "these are serious matters" and adjourned the case. He said he would hear mitigation in the case before sentencing on a later date.