Suspended sentence for drunk lorry driver who collided with two other lorries

An articulated lorry driver who collided with two other lorries while drink-driving has been handed down a suspended prison sentence.

Christopher Glackin, 64, whose address was listed as Mullaghboy Road, Bellaghy, has also been fined €750. He has been disqualified from holding a driving licence for six years.

At Wednesday’s sitting of Donegal District Court, Judge Sandra Murphy said that the suspended sentence was on condition that the defendant continued to refrain from alcohol. He must also continue to attend AA meetings as part of his suspended sentence bond.

The case was originally heard in October, and was adjourned for a Probation Report.

At the October hearing, Glackin pleaded guilty to the charges, namely, that at Laghey, he was the driver of a vehicle which damaged the rear light of another lorry, scraped along the side and damaged the exhaust and the cab, and that he failed to stop, failed to remain at the scene and failed to report the incident; that at Tullyearl Roundabout he damaged a second lorry’s wing mirror, mudguard, and front panel, and failed to stop, remain at the scene or report the collision.

Glackin also pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving in relation to both collisions.

He further pleaded guilty to having an alcohol reading of 75mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath at Clarcarricknagun, Donegal Town. The legal limit for a professional driver is 9mcg.

All charges occurred on April 4, 2022.

Inspector Seamus McGonigle told the court that gardaí received reports relating to the two dangerous driving incidents involving the collisions with rigid lorries. There was also a third report from a woman who said she had to pull off the road because of the intimidating behaviour of a lorry driver behind her.

In relation to the defendant’s failure to stop following the collisions, Inspector McGonigle said: “He knew there was an accident because his passenger window was broken.”

The court heard that nobody was injured in the collisions.

The inspector added: “There was quite a bit of material damage.”

This had been covered by the insurance of Glackin’s employer.

Inspector McGonigle told the court that the defendant had a previous conviction for drink driving, and had a three-year ban imposed in 2019.

Solicitor Rory O’Brien said his client had been a professional driver for 45 years and had developed difficulties with alcohol.

“He and his family are utterly mortified by what occurred and the risk he put himself and everyone else to in relation to this matter,” said the solicitor.

Mr O’Brien described the incident as ‘the moment of clarity’ that had led the defendant to deal with his difficulties with alcohol.

The court heard that Glackin had been immediately dismissed from his job as a result of the incident. With the support of his family, he had entered rehab for three months. He was taking part in an online aftercare programme and attending AA meetings.

“He is utterly sorry and remorseful,” said Mr O’Brien.

Judge Murphy initially adjourned the matter to December for a probation report, and then to April 5.

At last Wednesday’s sitting, Mr O’Brien said his client had engaged fully with the Northern Ireland Probation Service. He was attending three AA meetings per week, having completed an initial series of 90 meetings in 90 days.

“He hasn’t taken a drop of alcohol since the incident occurred last year,” said the solicitor.

“He is to be commended and admired for the great strides he has made in his life, supported by his family.

“What is most impressive is that the probation service considers him a low risk of reoffending. Given his difficulties with alcohol, that is a status that he has had to work very hard to achieve.”

Mr O’Brien said that his client fully accepted responsibility for the incident.

Judge Murphy acknowledged that the defendant had not come to any further garda attention.

For the charge of drink driving, she imposed a fine of €250 and a six-year disqualification from holding a driving licence.

Regarding each of the two dangerous driving charges, Judge Murphy handed down concurrent four-month prison sentences suspended for 12 months on a bond of €250. She also imposed a four-year driving ban.

Glackin was fined a further €500 for failing to stop at the scene of both collisions. Other charges related to his leaving the scene were taken into consideration.