Marcella Duffy receives fully suspended sentence over cyclist’s death

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Marcella Duffy, 62, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of cyclist John Walsh. The proceedings were reported on November 26, 2025.

Duffy’s car crossed onto the opposite side of Malahide Road in Kinsealy and struck Walsh as he was cycling on February 18, 2024. He later died in hospital.

Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, suspended it in full, and disqualified Duffy from driving for six years. He said he found no aggravating factors and described her culpability as being on the lower side. The judge noted she was travelling at 62km/h, after the speed limit had changed from 60km/h to 50km/h.

Walsh’s wife, Olivia Walsh, told the court in her victim impact statement that their three young sons would face their lives without their father.