Megan O’Shaughnessy gets suspended sentence for careless driving

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

Megan O’Shaughnessy received a three-month fully suspended sentence for careless driving causing serious bodily harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, reported on 13 February 2024.

The offence occurred on Emmet Road, Dublin 8, on 27 January 2022, when O’Shaughnessy struck a 75-year-old man crossing the road and did not realise she had hit him.

The man was treated in hospital for a broken wrist and arm. He was later readmitted because of continuing pain and a delusional episode, and remained in hospital for four weeks.

Judge Martin Nolan said she should have seen him, while recognising that she had been driving safely and that people make mistakes. He accepted references describing her as dedicated and hardworking.

The court was told that O’Shaughnessy had pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions and had not been speeding or using her phone. The judge suspended the sentence in full on strict conditions.