Zimbabwean Appears in Court over Car Crash that Caused Major Power Outage in Ireland

A Zimbabwean man in Ireland has been fined and banned from driving after a high-speed crash that knocked out power to nearly 1,200 homes and caused €60,000 in damage (image source)

A Zimbabwean national, Tennyson Dube, has appeared in an Irish court after crashing his vehicle into an ESB electricity pole, leaving almost 1,200 customers without power and causing nearly €60,000 in damage. The late-night incident triggered a major emergency response and renewed concerns about infrastructure vulnerability in the border county of Monaghan.

Crash and Immediate Aftermath

Gardaí say the collision occurred on 30 November 2024, when Dube’s silver Opel Insignia veered off Kingscourt Road in Mullanarry, Carrickmacross, and struck a roadside electricity substation at high speed. The impact snapped an ESB pole, bringing down power lines and cutting electricity to approximately 1,158 homes and businesses.

When officers arrived shortly before 11:30 PM, they found the female front-seat passenger injured and attempting to flag them down amid fallen cables. She was later diagnosed with a fractured rib. Dube, however, had fled the scene on foot. A preliminary inspection showed the vehicle had no insurance or tax discs displayed.

Court Proceedings and Admissions

Dube (35), an international protection applicant living at the M Hotel in Carrickmacross, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene. The court heard he walked back to the hotel after the crash and provided a voluntary cautioned statement the next day, accepting responsibility.

Defence solicitor Niall Fox said his client had “panicked” and made a “silly decision” to flee, noting that Dube had bought the car only days earlier and was driving on a provisional licence. While he was not charged with being uninsured, Fox said Dube wanted to be “open and frank” about the circumstances.

Fox added that his client, a father of two with six years’ driving experience prior to moving to Ireland, had fully cooperated with Gardaí. He urged the court not to impose a custodial sentence, acknowledging the potential impact on Dube’s asylum claim.

Judicial Remarks and Sentencing

Judge John Brennan said Dube’s actions effectively caused “the whole power of Carrickmacross” to fail, describing his decision to leave the injured passenger behind as an aggravating factor.

Dube was banned from driving for two years and fined €300 for dangerous driving, with an additional €300 imposed under Section 106 of the Road Traffic Act.

Impact on Infrastructure and Local Community

ESB Networks confirmed that around 1,200 properties were affected. Crews worked through the night to isolate the damaged feeder line, assess hazards, and restore supply. While most homes were reconnected within hours, some experienced extended outages as engineers replaced specialised equipment destabilised by the collision.

Residents described hearing loud bangs, alarms and flashes of light as the substation was hit. One witness reported seeing “sparks and a loud bang,” followed by a car accelerating away toward the main road. Another local said the sudden blackout caused widespread confusion as traffic signals and businesses went dark within seconds.