Courts / Dublin / Report

Driver (86) fined and banned for hitting woman (95) during 'momentary inattention'

Summary

An 86‑year‑old driver, Phillip Smith, was fined €1,500 and banned from driving for one year after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm. On 4 August 2021, while travelling at 34 km/h on Gardiner Street, he struck a 95‑year‑old pedestrian who had crossed the street without looking left. The collision left the woman with a spinal fracture and 31 facial stitches. CCTV showed the woman had crossed the road and Smith hit her; he had 1.5 seconds to react and did so in 0.8 seconds. Smith had no prior convictions and had never received a parking ticket. The court noted the seriousness of the injuries but also Smith's unblemished record and early guilty plea, and therefore imposed a fine and a one‑year driving disqualification rather than custodial imprisonment. The woman has since made a full physical recovery.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Driver (86) fined and banned for hitting woman (95) during 'momentary inattention'. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious harm on Gardiner Street on August 4, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• August 4, 2021 Incident
• 2024-03-21 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report