Courts / Dublin / Report

Driver fined for hitting pedestrian (95) who wrongly believed she had green light

Summary

In a north Dublin incident on 24 January 2023, 63‑year‑old John McDonagh struck a 95‑year‑old woman who mistakenly believed she had a green pedestrian light while crossing the road at Drumcondra Road Lower and Botanic Road. McDonagh was turning right when the filter lane's light turned green, but he did not see the woman and collided with her. The court heard that the traffic lights' sequencing did not indicate a green pedestrian signal, and that the investigating Garda agreed the victim may have assumed a green man. The elderly victim suffered fractures and other injuries, requiring a mobility walker after a 13‑week hospital stay. McDonagh pleaded guilty to careless driving, had no prior convictions, and was fined €1,000 with a six‑month payment period. The judge described the incident as unfortunate and noted McDonagh's low culpability due to his slow speed and lack of expectation of the victim's presence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Driver fined for hitting pedestrian (95) who wrongly believed she had green light. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• January 24, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-03-11 Publication

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Places mentioned

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Read the original CNI report