A teacher complained that a judge failed to stop his car and sounded his horn as her Holy Communion group crossed the road, a court heard yesterday. Judge Timothy Crowley, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, was cleared at Balbriggan District Court of a dangerous driving charge.
Ms Maura Ellis Carroll, then a teacher at St Peter's and Paul's national school, said the children had been crossing "crocodile" style on May 4th last year. The teacher stated that the judge's car approached and sounded its horn "continuously" while the children were crossing to the local church. The car failed to stop and did not slow down, she said. She told the court that she and a colleague had to "scatter" the children.
Asked by his counsel why he had not stopped, Judge Crowley replied: "Because there was no need to. There was at least half the roadway free of children and a teacher either side."
He had sounded the horn to draw attention to his presence "so that the children and the teachers would be aware of it".
Judge Flann Brennan said he had heard the evidence and that the defendant had stated he had slowed down and that a gap appeared. He had considered it safe to proceed.
"This is a charge of dangerous driving - a very serious charge. I'm not satisfied it's proven and I'll dismiss it."