A MOTHER of four young children was convicted yesterday under the road traffic Acts of failing to keep her vehicle at the scene of a fatal incident involving a 51-year-old pedestrian who, the court heard, had consumed alcohol and was lying across the public road near the Killorglin Golf Club on the night of February 26th, 2010.
The court heard how Eileen Hennessy (36), of An Bhainseach, Killorglin, had phoned gardaí from the scene to tell them of a body lying on the road, had identified herself and had pulled in for some minutes. She had flashed passing motorists and left the scene only when all traffic had stopped, but before gardaí arrived. The next day she had again contacted gardaí.
However, Ms Hennessy had made “a serious error of judgment in not keeping her vehicle at the scene, Judge Olann Kelleher said, convicting and fining her €1,250, and disqualifying her from driving for two years.
The judge said he was satisfied Ms Hennessy knew she was involved in an incident.
“The fact of the matter is there was a man lying on the road,” the judge said.
Niall Collins (51), a married man who worked as a housepainter, had been on his way to his mother-in-law’s house after an outing in which he had consumed alcohol after playing golf.
He had suffered severe head injuries and died at the scene at about 8.30pm on February 26th, 2010, the court heard.
He had been unsteady when walking on to the main road and was lying across the public carriageway, the court was told.
Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal, and an appeal was lodged immediately yesterday to the Circuit Court.