Athy woman pleads guilty to careless driving causing serious injury
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A MOTORIST has pleaded guilty to careless driving which resulted in serious injuries to a motorcyclist in a collision in Athy last year.
Inna Perederii (45) of Rheban Manor, Athy, Co Kildare appeared before a sitting of Naas Circuit Criminal Court where she was charged with careless driving causing serious bodily harm contrary to Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.
The offence occurred at Carlow Road, Athy on 15 February 2024.
Ms Perederii did not address the court apart from pleading guilty to the offence through a Russian translator.
The court heard that the accused was driving a 10-KE reg black Nissan Qashqai without due care and attention.
Defence counsel, Richard Wixted BL, told the arraignment hearing that Ms Perederii has no previous convictions.
Mr Wixted asked Judge Elva Duffy to remand the defendant on continuing bail until she was sentenced.
Prosecution counsel, Daniel Boland BL, said there was no objection from the DPP to the application.
Judge Duffy remanded Ms Perederii on continuing bail to appear before the same court on 13 January next to fix a date for a sentencing hearing.
At an earlier sitting of Athy District Court, evidence was heard that the collision occurred at around 6.30am when Mr Perederii was attempting to turn right.
Sergeant Dave Hanrahan told the court that the motorcyclist had sustained numerous injuries in the crash including two fractures of spinal vertebrae, a broken leg, a broken collar bone and some internal injuries.
Judge Desmond Zaidan observed that the injured party had suffered “catastrophic, life-changing injuries.”
“He was almost paralysed,” the judge added.
He claimed the original decision of the DPP to prosecute a charge of dangerous driving causing serious injury at district court level was “shocking” and “an insult to the injured party”.
The charge was subsequently amended to careless driving when it came before Naas Circuit Criminal Court after Judge Zaidan refused jurisdiction to deal with the case.
