Melvin Rattigan sentenced to community service pending suitability report

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

Melvin Rattigan was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 2 February 2018 to 240 hours of community service in lieu of two years in prison, pending a report on his suitability for community service. Judge Karen O’Connor ordered the report to be prepared for March 16.

Rattigan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to cyclist Laura Briggs at Lower Dominick Street, Dublin, on 13 May 2015. The proceedings were reported on 2 February 2018.

At the original sentence hearing, Garda Niall McCormack agreed with defence counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor that both parties had a green light, but Briggs had the right of way as Rattigan turned right. He agreed that Rattigan did not observe the cyclist in oncoming traffic. Rattigan did not have a full driving licence or insurance.

Rattigan drove off after the collision. He told gardaí he had panicked and thought Briggs had got back up and was okay. He said he had not heard or seen the taxi driver who followed him and told him to return.

Briggs suffered a hairline skull fracture and a fractured wrist. In a victim-impact statement, she described ongoing difficulties and depression. Rattigan made €3,000 available as redress, but Briggs declined it and asked that it be given to St Francis Hospice in Raheny and a youth charity.

Judge O’Connor said Rattigan had not been speeding or taken alcohol or illicit substances. She placed the offence at the lower end of seriousness, saying that although he should have observed Briggs, he simply had not seen her. She noted his previous good character and efforts to further his education.