Courts / Dublin / Report

Young man convicted of failing to report incident after woman's finger is severed in his car door

Date
2015-01-12

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Balbriggan

County
Dublin

Summary

Thomas Dennis, 21, was found guilty of failing to report an incident in which a woman's finger was severed when she was caught in the door of his car after leaving a Balbriggan nightclub. Dennis admitted he did not realise the finger was trapped until the following morning, when he discovered the tip stuck in the passenger side of the door. He called his father for advice and later contacted the gardai about three hours after finding the severed finger. The court noted that Dennis had no prior convictions and that he had been in shock when he discovered the injury. Judge John Coughlan convicted Dennis and fined him €100, stating that a driver is legally responsible for the actions of his passengers and that Dennis deliberately chose not to return to the scene. The decision was made at Swords District Court. The victim, hairdresser Shauna Weldon, has lost the top of her finger and is still receiving physiotherapy. Thomas Dennis pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Young man convicted of failing to report incident after woman's finger is severed in his car door. Charges or matters: failing to report an occurrence at Quay Street in Balbriggan at 3.30am on December 16th, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 16th, 2012 Incident
2015-01-12 Publication

Why: 'I thought she fell because she was drunk,' he said. CNI source report

Case subjects

Thomas Dennis

Defendant

Charges: failing to report an occurrence at Quay Street in Balbriggan at 3.30am on December 16th, 2012 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Judge John Coughlan convicted and fined Dennis €100 stating that a driver is legally responsible for the actions of his passengers. 'The driver deliberately made the decision not to go back to the scene when he was informed by his passengers that a girl as on the ground. He made a deliberate decision not to go back.' He fined Dennis €100 and fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.