Courts / Cork / Report
Unlicensed driver who left toddler 'bleeding and lifeless' on road fails in appeal
Summary
The Court of Appeal upheld a four‑year sentence for a 17‑year‑old unlicensed driver who, after buying a car for €100 the day before, sped through tight turns in a residential area and struck a toddler on 25 March 2019. The child was thrown into the air, left bleeding and lifeless, and suffered severe injuries including a broken collarbone, broken shoulder blade, fractured hip, collapsed lung, brain bleed and permanent traumatic brain injury. He spent eight days in an induced coma, twelve days in intensive care, and remains unable to walk, talk or hold his head, requiring tube feeding. The defendant pleaded guilty to driving a dangerously defective vehicle, failing to stop, failing to remain at the scene, failing to report the incident to Gardaí and driving without insurance or a licence. The court imposed six years' detention, with the final two years suspended, and a 20‑year driving ban.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Unlicensed driver who left toddler 'bleeding and lifeless' on road fails in appeal. Charges or matters: driving a dangerously defective vehicle, failing to stop, failing to keep his vehicle at the scene of an incident, failing to report the incident to gardai and driving without insurance or licence. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- March 25th 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2017 Incident
- 2021-01-15 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: driving a dangerously defective vehicle, failing to stop, failing to keep his vehicle at the scene of an incident, failing to report the incident to gardai and driving without insurance or licence (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The court did reduce a further sentence for a violent disorder conviction against the Cork youth from 12 months to six months and banned him from driving for 15 years rather than the 20 imposed by the sentencing judge. The defendant was sentenced to six years detention with the final two years suspended and banned from driving for 20 years.
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