Driver caused thousands in damages to Kildare service station

A driver who crashed into a local petrol station and caused thousands of euro worth of damage was last week given a custodial sentence and put off the road for two years when he appeared before Carlow District Court. David Miller, Tankardstown, Ballylinan, Co Laois had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and to causing criminal damage at the Three Counties Service Station, Maganey on 7 June 2024.

Solicitor Alex Rafter said that Mr Miller (56) had “a lot on his mind” at the time of the accident. He continued that he’d been driving his wife’s automatic car days before the incident and “made a mistake” on the day of the accident when he was driving a company van.

Judge Geraldine Carthy was told that Mr Miller had three previous convictions including two for dangerous driving and one for careless driving and that €15,000 worth of damage had been caused in the accident.

Judge Carthy noted Mr Miller’s van had come through a stop sign and crashed into one of the petrol pumps, causing “serious damage” underground.

She also noted that the sentencing had been adjourned to see if Mr Miller’s employer would pay for the damage “but that didn’t happen”. She said that it merited a custodial sentence and sentenced him to eight months in prison while also disqualifying him for two years.