Courts / Dublin / Report

Banned repeat driving offender 'ruined lives' of elderly couple in crash

Date
2020-11-03

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A banned repeat driving offender, Brian Reilly, 24, with 126 prior convictions, drove on the wrong side of the M50 to evade Gardaí before crashing into the car of an elderly couple, John and Ellen Armstrong, who were stopped at a red light at Kilshane Cross, Finglas, in January. The collision caused significant injuries to Ellen, including multiple rib fractures and the amputation of the tip of her right thumb, leaving her dependent on others for basic care. John suffered a head wound and a seizure. Reilly, who was disqualified from driving, fled the scene but was later found by Gardaí. He has pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving causing serious harm, refusing a blood or urine sample, and driving without insurance. He remains in custody and will be sentenced in December, with a Probation Services report ordered and the matter adjourned for finalisation on December 21.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Banned repeat driving offender 'ruined lives' of elderly couple in crash. Charges or matters: two counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving causing serious harm to Ellen Armstrong, one count of refusing to provide a blood or urine sample and one count of driving without insurance on January 29 this year. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 29 Hearing Or Sentence
December 21 Adjournment
2020-11-03 Publication

Why: "These are two elderly people whose lives have been ruined because of the actions of the accused, who was disqualified from driving at the time. CNI source report

Case subjects

Brian Reilly

Defendant

Charges: two counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving causing serious harm to Ellen Armstrong, one count of refusing to provide a blood or urine sample and one count of driving without insurance on January 29 this year (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He has been in custody since the incident and will be sentenced in December. Judge Greally accepted Reilly was remorseful for his actions, but said he is facing a lengthy prison sentence. "Who could fail to be remorseful?" the judge said. "These are two elderly people whose lives have been ruined because of the actions of the accused, who was disqualified from driving at the time." She ordered a Probation Services report and adjourned the matter for finalisation on December 21.; Judge Greally accepted Reilly was remorseful for his actions, but said he is facing a lengthy prison sentence. "Who could fail to be remorseful?" the judge said. "These are two elderly people whose lives have been ruined because of the actions of the accused, who was disqualified from driving at the time." She ordered a Probation Services report and adjourned the matter for finalisation on Decembe