Courts / Dublin / Report

Garda avoids jail for causing death of pedestrian (75)

Summary

Warren Farrell, a 33‑year‑old Garda in Ballyfermot, was driving a marked patrol car when he struck 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core on Fonthill Road South, Dublin, on 28 August 2014. He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death, but was convicted on an alternative charge of careless driving causing death. The jury found him guilty by majority verdict. Judge Cormac Quinn noted Farrell's speed was between 50 and 56 km/h, slightly above the 50 km/h limit, and that he failed to slow after seeing Core cross the road. Farrell claimed he expected her to stop, applied brakes, and tried to avoid her by moving onto the footpath, but a tyre burst prevented this. The judge deferred a nine‑month prison sentence under section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, requiring Farrell to pay a €2,000 fine and €5,000 to the Irish Road Victims Association within four months.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Garda avoids jail for causing death of pedestrian (75). Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing the death of Mrs Core at Fonthill Road South, Dublin, on August 28, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• August 28, 2014 Incident
• 2019-03-12 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report