A woman who lost control of a BMW car and killed a three-year-old boy has been fined £500 and disqualified from driving for three years by Judge Kevin Haugh at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Sara Jimenez (24), of Church Lane, Santry, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death on April 27th, 1999.
Garda Cathal Hickey told Ms Mary Ellen Ring, prosecuting, that Jimenez lost control of the car when another car came in front of her as she was turning on to the Swords road after leaving the Omni Park Shopping Centre. She was forced on to the wrong side of the road and ended up on the footpath. Mr John Sherwin was waiting at a bus stop with his three-year-old grandson, William Barrett, when he saw the car approaching. He jumped out of the way before hearing a scream. When he turned around he saw the boy lying on the ground.
Jimenez, who was born in Denmark but has lived in Dublin with her Spanish parents for a number of years, told the boy's father in court that there were no words to describe how sorry she felt. She prayed and wished that she could change things.
Mr John Nolan, defending, said that his client had not driven since and was unlikely to drive again.
Judge Haugh said that those attending the hearing could not but be moved by "this appalling tragedy", which had profoundly affected many people.