Ireland Case No. 12631Careless driving (reduced from dangerous driving) · Co. Donegal · 18 Sep 2025
Dutch tourist fined €200 for careless driving after head-on collision in Newmills, Donegal
Vincent Maertens, 48, a Dutch national, appeared at Letterkenny District Court on 22 September 2025 after a head-on collision on 18 September 2025 at Doonglebe, Newmills, in which he drove on the wrong side of the road. Judge Ciaran Liddy reduced the charge from dangerous driving to careless driving and fined him €200.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced22 Sep
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports28 statements extracted from the articles
- whatVincent Maertens is a Dutch national aged 48 (thejournal.ie)
- whatTwo people are still in hospital as a result of the collision (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe vehicle was a hired car (thejournal.ie)
- whatHe was fully insured (thejournal.ie)
- whatHe was not driving under the influence of intoxicants (thejournal.ie)
- whatHe was not speeding at the time (thejournal.ie)
- whatHe has no previous convictions (thejournal.ie)
- whatMaertens crossed onto the wrong side of the road, causing a head-on collision. (donegallive.ie)
- whatThe accused's mother-in-law was seriously injured and still in hospital. (donegallive.ie)
- whatTwo people were still in hospital as a result of the collision. (donegallive.ie)
- whatMaertens and his family had been visiting the Newmills Corn and Flax Mills tourist attraction outside Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whatThey were heading in the direction of Fintown when the incident occurred. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe collision took place at Doonglebe, Newmills (thejournal.ie, donegallive.ie)
- whereMaertens and his family had been visiting Newmills Corn and Flax Mills tourist attraction (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe head-on collision occurred on 18 September 2025 (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe head-on collision occurred on Thursday afternoon, 18 September 2025. (donegallive.ie)
- causeHe crossed onto the wrong side of the road causing a head-on collision (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe was initially charged with dangerous driving under Section 53(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (thejournal.ie, donegallive.ie)
- courtHe appeared at Letterkenny District Court (thejournal.ie)
- courtSolicitor Patsy Gallagher applied to reduce the charge to Section 52 careless driving (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Ciaran Liddy reduced the charge to careless driving (thejournal.ie)
- courtVincent Maertens appeared at Letterkenny District Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtSolicitor Patsy Gallagher applied to have the charge reduced to Section 52 careless driving. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge Ciaran Liddy was satisfied it was a moment of confusion for a tourist. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceHe was fined a total of €200 (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe charge was reduced to careless driving and the accused was fined €200. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe accused was fully insured, not under the influence of intoxicants, and the vehicle was a hired car. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe accused was on holiday and had no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Sep2025Tourist who caused a head-on collision in Donegal appears in court
Court appearance and sentencing: charge reduced from Section 53 dangerous driving to Section 52 careless driving; €200 fine imposed. Two people remain in hospital, including the accused's mother-in-law who was seriously injured.
accused, Vincent Maertens, 48, male, Dutch, named, non-irishVincent Maertensvictim, female - 22 Sep2025Tourist injured two people after driving on wrong side of the road in Co Donegal, court hears
Court appearance where the initial Section 53 dangerous driving charge was reduced to Section 52 careless driving and a €200 fine was imposed.
accused, Vincent Maertens, 48, male, Dutch, named, non-irishVincent Maertensvictim, female