Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for mechanic who reversed over man, causing "devastating injuries"

Summary

Ian Kelly, a 36‑year‑old mechanic from Phibsboro, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury to Keith Lawless at the Topaz Garage in Hartstown on 24 March 2012. Kelly struck Lawless with his car and then reversed over him, breaking bones in Lawless's neck, caving in his skull, causing multiple head fractures and a brain bleed. Lawless was carried 10–12 feet under the vehicle, found unconscious and bleeding, and now suffers post‑traumatic amnesia and lasting impairments to speech, vision, balance, memory, learning, concentration and behaviour. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Kelly to four and a half years' imprisonment, disqualified him from driving for four years, and rejected a €10,000 compensation offer. The court noted Kelly's remorse and good character, but deemed the offence close to the height of dangerous driving. The case remains an open and shut civil matter for Lawless.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for mechanic who reversed over man, causing "devastating injuries". Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious injury to Keith Lawless at the Topaz Garage in Hartstown, Dublin on March 24, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 24, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2015-06-03 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report