Three articulated trucks with trailers attached were driven three abreast downhill along the main Limerick to Tralee Road taking over the main traffic lanes so they could be videoed and put up on YouTube for charity, Tralee District Court was told today.
The drivers of the trucks, two Polish men and one Irish, all employees of McAuliffe Trucking Ltd Castleisland pleaded guilty to dangerous driving today. Their solicitor Padraig O’Connell said they had carried out the enterprise on Sunday morning of October 14th 2012 for the Share a Dream, the ill children’s charity, and Pieta House, the suicide charity, but admitted it could have been better organised.
Judge James O’Connor described the behaviour “for half a mile three abreast across the road” as “outlandish”and “scandalous” and among the worst he ever experienced. He rejected a suggestion from Mr O’Connell that there were no consequences. In fact, Judge O’Connor said the “frightful example “ to young men who viewed it on You Tube and decided to immitate it might have terrible consequences.
“We don’t know who will follow this. We don’t know the consequences,” the judge said.
Judge O’Connor said the actions of the men – acting for charity but putting the public at risk — made no sense.
“There was absence of ordinary plain common sense here,” he said.
“It should never have happened. It should never have been advertised. This is scandalous.”
Krzysztof Sokolowski (33) of Main Street, Castleisland, Lorcan Regan ( 20) of Mein, Knocknagoshel, and Slawomir Kupiec (36) of Clonough Drive, Limerick Road, Castleisland each pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Dooneen, Castleisland on October 14th 2012.
Mr Kupiec also pleaded to dangerous parking at Mullaghmarky,Castleisland on the date.
A charge against the company, McAuliffe Trucking Ltd, Castleisland, was withdrawn.
The three men were going to have to serve time, Judge O’Connor said. This could be two nights minimum in garda custody, he told Mr O’Connell, who pleaded against a longer sentence.
Mr O’Connell said his instructions were to appeal any custodial sentence.
The matter is to be finalised on Tuesday in Killarney.