Courts / Dublin / Report
Truck driver who caused catastrophic injury to pedestrian avoids jail
Summary
Zahir Boudahane, 50, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing serious injury to William Burke, 32, on O'Connell Bridge on 10 June 2022. Boudahane, a professional truck driver with no prior convictions, was travelling in the bus lane on Bachelor's Walk, broke a red light and made an illegal right turn onto O'Connell Bridge. Burke was crossing the road from the Eden Quay direction when Boudahane's vehicle struck him head‑on, dragging him under the front of the truck. Burke's left leg was severely damaged, leading to a below‑the‑knee amputation and his current use of a wheelchair. The court, noting Boudahane's lack of intoxication, low speed (17 km/h), cooperation at the scene, and the loss of his livelihood, imposed a headline sentence of two years but reduced it to a fully suspended 18‑month sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Truck driver who caused catastrophic injury to pedestrian avoids jail. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious injury to William Burke on O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, on June 10, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 10, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-12-13 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: dangerous driving causing serious injury to William Burke on O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, on June 10, 2022 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Orla Crowe said Boudahane's moral culpability was at the lower end of the scale in that he had not been intoxicated and had not broken any speed limits. She set a headline sentence of two years but in light of personal and mitigating circumstances, she reduced this to a fully-suspended sentence of 18 months.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Mater Hospital
- voluntary statement at the garda station
Topics
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