AN 85-year-old man whose van collided with a moped, causing a doctor serious injury, has been given a suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for 10 years.
Laurence Farrelly accepted that he had been driving the van when gardaí stopped him later but said he was unaware there had been a collision. Farrelly of Eagle Hill Avenue, Terenure Road North, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Dr Edward Moloney (41) and failing to stop at the occurrence of an injury on Templeogue Road on June 27th, 2010.
Judge Yvonne Murphy imposed a one-year sentence which she suspended for one year and disqualified Farrelly from driving for 10 years.
Sgt Patrick Slattery told Tara Burns, prosecuting, that at about 1.50pm on a sunny day, Farrelly was driving a white Hiace van and was stopped at traffic lights. A witness driving two cars behind beeped when Farrelly failed to move off as the lights turned green, and the van then took off. The witness could also see Dr Moloney on a moped ahead of the van, on his way to Tallaght hospital.
The witness saw the white van veering twice to the left of the road and when the van veered a third time he could no longer see the moped driver and became concerned he had been hit. Sgt Slattery agreed with Ms Burns the moped had been knocked down.
Dr Moloney, who was dragged for 35m (120ft), has no recollection of the incident.
Farrelly drove on to visit his sister in a nursing home. A Garda setting up a roadblock later noticed a van with damage to the bonnet. He followed and tried to stop the driver who was initially oblivious to the attempts to stop him. Tests for alcohol proved negative.
Farrelly made a voluntary statement accepting he had driven the van but said he had no knowledge of the incident. Sgt Slattery said Farrelly had been advised to wear glasses while driving. When the gardaí later managed to stop him on his return journey, he was not wearing glasses but there were three pairs on the dashboard.
Dr Moloney sustained life-threatening injuries including losing eight litres of blood, a collapsed lung, fractures, soft tissue injuries and road-burn to about 20 per cent of his body. He required surgery and was in intensive care until the beginning of July. He has returned to work on restricted hours. Dr Moloney told Ms Burns it had been a very difficult period and he still has pain, is unable to walk long distances, or run and play with his children.
Sgt Slattery said Farrelly was a bachelor who lived alone. He had worked casually in the construction industry through the years. He has no previous convictions.
Sgt Slattery agreed with Jonathan Kilfeather SC, defending, there was strong sunshine on the day.
Sgt Slattery agreed the gardaí trying to stop Farrelly later had turned on their lights and siren without effect. They approached him at traffic lights but it was only when a garda banged on the van that he looked and seemed surprised to see them.
Sgt Slattery said age and hearing difficulties seemed to stand out as factors. He said that although Farrelly had been certified as fit to drive, he had promised him he would not drive again and he has kept to that. Farrelly was fully insured at the time.