Courts / Dublin / Report

Banned, serial driving offender gets six years for 'ruining lives' of elderly couple

Date
2021-01-15

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Brian Reilly, a 24-year-old disqualified driver with 126 previous convictions, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on January 29, 2020. Reilly pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Ellen Armstrong, one count of refusing to provide a blood or urine sample, and one count of driving without insurance. The court heard that Reilly, who had been released from jail six weeks prior, attempted to evade gardaí by driving the wrong way on the M50 and N2. His actions resulted in a collision with the vehicle of John and Ellen Armstrong, who were stopped at a red light in Finglas. Ellen Armstrong suffered significant injuries, including multiple rib fractures and the amputation of the tip of her right thumb, leaving her dependent on others for care. Judge Melanie Greally stated that Reilly exposed four separate drivers to risk and ruined the lives of the elderly couple. She imposed a sentence of seven-and-a-half years, suspending the final 18 months on conditions that include engaging with drug addiction services. Reilly was also disqualified from driving for life. The judge noted Reilly's genuine remorse and difficult background but emphasized the seriousness of his offending and the lifelong pain inflicted on the victims.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Banned, serial driving offender gets six years for 'ruining lives' of elderly couple. Charges or matters: two counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving causing serious bodily 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, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 29, 2020 Other
2021-01-15 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," the judge said. CNI source report

Case subjects

Brian Reilly

Defendant

Charges: two counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving causing serious bodily 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, 2020 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She imposed a sentence of seven-and-a-half years and suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions, including that Reilly engage with drug addiction services.