Judge imposes effective driving ban on man (25) facing 10 dangerous driving charges

Gordon Deegan

A district court judge has imposed an effective driving ban on a motorist charged with 10 dangerous driving offences, before the driver has decided if he is to enter a guilty or not guilty plea.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett has ordered that as part of bail terms for Karl Tadiwa Takawira Mundawarara (25) with an Ennis address, he undertake not to drive a vehicle.

Judge Gabbett said, “It is either that or he goes into custody."

Judge Gabbett told the court that he was imposing the bail condition as this "is a public safety issue".

Solicitor, John Casey, for Mr Takawira Mundawarara, said that “maybe the court is jumping the gun, these are only charges at the moment”.

Mr Casey said that he did not want to enter a plea in the case as he had not received Garda disclosure of evidence against Mr Takawira Mundawarara as yet.

Judge Gabbett imposed the effective driving ban pending the conclusion of the case after Sgt John Burke told him that Mr Takawira Mundawarara is facing 10 separate dangerous driving charges.

Sgt Burke said that Mr Takawira Mundawarara is also facing one drug possession charge concerning €100 worth of cocaine.

Judge Gabbett said that Mr Takawira Mundawarara “is entitled to presumption of innocence, but one would have to be very concerned that he is facing 10 dangerous driving charge sheets in one day”.

In the case, Mr Takawira Mundawarara is facing 10 separate dangerous driving charges from one incident on June 29th of this year across 10 separate town lands in Ennis and its environs.

The town lands and areas include Circular Rd, Claraabbey, Ballybeg, Clonroadmore, Tiermaclane-Ballyea, Cahercalla More, Kildysart Rd, Drumbiggle, Cahercalla Beg and Ballymacaula.

Judge Gabbett said, “He was tearing through town in residential areas, being chased?”

Asked how Mr Takawira Mundawarara came to a stop at the end of a Garda pursuit at 5am on June 29th, Sgt Burke said: “He crashed.”

Judge Gabbett commented, “you rarely get 10 dangerous driving charges and this was all for €100 worth of cocaine?”

Solicitor, John Casey, for Mr Takawira Mundawarara of Cappahard, Ennis, said that had his client stopped initially for the Gardaí, he would be facing a minor drugs possession charge.

Judge Gabbett said, “for his first time, he would be looking at a contribution to the Court Discretionary Fund (Court Poor Box)”.

Judge Gabbett said that instead the penalty for dangerous driving is a two-year driving ban, “and with 10 charges, he could be off the road for a long time”.

Judge Gabbett said that “of course, these are only allegations and is entitled to the presumption of innocence”.

Judge Gabbett asked Sgt Burke if Mr Takawira Mundawarara could be facing a charge of endangerment and Sgt Burke said that he will not be as the DPP has already made directions in the case.

Judge Gabbett said that the case should not be adjourned for any lengthy period as “I don’t want to keep off the road for longer than needs be if he is not guilty”.

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to October 3rd and said, “he is off the road until the 3rd of October."