Courts / Dublin / Report
Dangerous driver who caused serious harm to toddler has driver's licence restored
Summary
Rachel Breen, a 49‑year‑old occupational therapist from Skerries, had her driving licence restored after a 2014 disqualification for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to a two‑year‑old boy on Naul Road, Balbriggan, in October 2012. Breen pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting she was travelling below the 80 kph limit and had not seen the junction, which was poorly marked and badly surfaced. The court had previously found her a "decent woman" who made a "serious error of judgement" and imposed a four‑year disqualification and a €5,000 damages order. At a brief hearing, the court, with no objection from the prosecution, granted her licence restoration under the Road Traffic Act, noting she had been off the road since December 2014 and needed a licence for her responsible job.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dangerous driver who caused serious harm to toddler has driver's licence restored. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to the then two-year-old boy at Naul Road, Balbriggan on October 6, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 6, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-05-30 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to the then two-year-old boy at Naul Road, Balbriggan on October 6, 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Rachel Breen (49) was disqualified from driving for four years in December 2014 and ordered to pay €5000 after the accident in October 2012. Judge Desmond Hogan described Breen at the original sentence hearing in 2014 as a "decent woman" who had made a "serious error of judgement, with serious consequences." He disqualified her from driving for four years and ordered her to pay €5000 in damages.
Places mentioned
- Shenick Avenue
- Skerries
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Naul
- Naul Road
- Balbriggan
Topics
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