Driver who knocked woman off bicycle and drove off is banned

A chef has been given a driving ban and fined €800 after he knocked a cyclist off her bike with his car and then drove off.

Judge Hugh O’Donnell disqualified the driver for a year and told him he will now have to cycle to work.

Barry McDonagh (33) with an address at Glendoher Close,  Ballyboden, Dublin, pleaded guilty to careless driving, failing to remain at the scene of an accident and not giving appropriate information.

The incident happened at South Richmond Street in Dublin on March 28th last year.

Garda Philip Farrelly told Judge Hugh O'Donnell at Dublin District Court that McDonagh "collided with a cyclist knocking her to the ground and when she got up off the ground he failed to remain at the scene".

He did not exchange information with her but she noted his car registration number. Gardaí traced him and spoke to him the following day. He made full admissions, has no prior convictions and never came to Garda attention before,  the court heard.

His solicitor said the man had tipped the cyclist as he was driving by her and there was no bus lane on the street. He asked the court to note it was his first offence and he co-operated.

Pleading for leniency he said his client needs to be able to travel to Dublin 4 for work but Judge O’Donnell said: “He will be cycling now”.

He said the man behaved disgracefully by driving away and he could not expect to keep his licence.