Courts / Meath / Report
Suspended sentence for driver who caused motorcyclist's death
Summary
Sandra Kavanagh, 47, was driving on the M50 near Finglas on 19 November 2019 when she moved part‑way into the hard shoulder and collided with Nebojsa Sarcevic, 29, who was riding his motorbike in the same direction. The impact threw Sarcevic from his bike and into the motorway barrier, where he died from his injuries. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death. She had four prior traffic convictions, including speeding and failing to wear a seat belt. Judge Martin Nolan found no aggravating factors such as alcohol, drugs or excessive speed. He imposed a suspended sentence of eight months and disqualified her from driving for four years, citing her inattentive driving as the cause of the fatal accident. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Court on 7 November 2022.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for driver who caused motorcyclist's death. Charges or matters: careless driving causing death on the M50 near Finglas on November 19, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 2019 Other
- November 19, 2019 Other
- 2022-11-07 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: careless driving causing death on the M50 near Finglas on November 19, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) A woman who drove into the hard shoulder of a motorway, colliding with a motorcyclist and causing his death, has been given a suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for four years. He noted: "All drivers are capable of it and a lot of us are guilty of it." "Unfortunately, her inattentive driving caused the death of this young man." Judge Nolan ruled that Kavanagh did not deserve a custodial sentence for her "bad driving on the day in question".
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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