Prison for hit-and-run driver who was already disqualified

A highly intoxicated man who was disqualified from driving for ten years in 2016, ran from the scene of a hit-and-run last year after he “ploughed” into the back of a car stopped at traffic lights.

William Casserly (33), 189 An Sean Bhaile, Doughiska, who has 79 previous convictions, had driven off without paying €50 for petrol at a Ballybrit filling station just 40 minutes before being involved in the hit-and-run collision on October 28 last year.

He received sentences totalling 11 months and was disqualified from driving for 15 years at Galway District Court.

Casserly pleaded guilty to driving off without paying for €50 worth of petrol at Ballybrit, and to running from the scene of an accident at traffic lights at Briar Hill a short time later.  He also admitted to driving while disqualified, failing to give a breath sample and having no insurance on the same occasion.

The court heard Gardai viewed CCTV at the filling station and immediately recognised Casserly from the footage.

Just forty minutes later, Garda Barry Burke was called to the scene of a hit and run.  Casserly’s car had rear-ended another car at traffic lights and he got out and ran from the scene. He was chased by a civilian witness and arrested a short time later and found to be extremely intoxicated.

Sgt. Aoife Curley, prosecuting, confirmed Casserly had been disqualified from driving for ten years in 2016 and was disqualified from driving at the time of these latest offences.

She said he had 79 previous convictions, 40 of which were for road traffic violations, which included four for drunken driving, eight for theft, eleven for criminal damage and nine for driving without insurance.

Handing €50 into court on behalf of Casserly for the petrol, defence solicitor, Olivia Traynor conceded his previous convictions went back as far as November 2002, adding that most of them were committed while he was under the influence of alcohol.

She confirmed to the court that her client was currently serving sentences totalling 16 months for similar offences and had been due for release on October 5 next.

Imposing sentences totalling 11 months on Casserly along with a 15-year disqualification on the charges before the court, Judge Deirdre Gearty said to Casserly:

“You come before this court with an absolutely appalling record. You have learnt absolutely nothing from your dealings with the courts down through the years even though you were given assistance by various services in the past.

“And what happened on this night? You go off and steal petrol and within 40 minutes, you plough into someone at traffic lights.

“You do not have the maturity to stay and face up to it and you put Gardaí to the trouble of having to find you. Your plea is limited.”

The judge backdated the sentences to July 16 last.

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