2019-04-05 · Kildare
Serial road offender on drugs when he hit seriously injured pedestrians
Paul Connolly, 37, with 14 dangerous‑driving convictions and 3 hit‑and‑run convictions, drove under the influence of cocaine and benzodiazepine on Coolmine Road on 1 May 2018. While driving his child to school, he mounted a footpath, first striking Michael Igoe, 54, and then student Francis Dhala, 19. Igoe suffered a fractured ankle, bruising, torn shoulder muscles and a concussion; Dhala sustained a severe head injury, requiring multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay. Connolly left the scene calmly, later claiming he thought he had hit a bush. He was intercepted by a driving instructor and Gardaí, admitted to drug use, and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, driving under the influence, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence.