An unemployed Ederney man who clipped the side of a postman's van before crashing into a bus shelter and flipping his car has appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court charged with dangerous driving.

Fifty-seven year old Denis McGee from New Street in Ederney was disqualified from driving for three months and fined £200 at the court.

The court heard that on the 17th September last year the injured party, a local postman, was driving along the Manoo Road towards Ardess Cross in the Kesh area. He indicated to turn right but was overtaken by a car, travelling in the same direction, which bent back his wing mirror and scraped the side of his van.

This car, driven by the defendant, then collided with a bus shelter, destroying it before flipping up on its side.

The defendant left the scene but the injured party had recognised him. The defendant was spoken to later at his home and he told police he had taken a few drinks following the accident to settle his nerves.

Defending, Tommy Owens explained his client was overtaking the van when the accident occurred because as he went to overtake the injured party started to turn right. Mr Owens said it all happened so quickly. The defendant was fined £200 and disqualified from driving for three months on the dangerous driving charge. For failing to stop and failing to report an accident fines of £100 were imposed for each offence.