Athy woman who hit garda sergeant with car appears in court

A woman who hit a garda sergeant with a car on the Athy bypass to a degree that he still needs further surgery, will return to court in July for sentencing after admitting the offence.

Lisa Owens (25) with an address at Moat View, Kilmead, Athy was in Athy District Court to plead to a single count of dangerous driving on 21 February 2024 on the Athy Distributor Road, as it is formally called.

The sergeant was assisting the county council with the removal of an illegal caravan on the day in question.

“Ms Owens got into the car; she was signalled to stop, failed to do so, hit me and drove at speed back towards the caravan,” said the sergeant.

“She continued revving in front of me,” he testified.

“And are you fully recovered now?” enquired Judge Desmond Zaidan.

“I still have to go back to have an operation to remove some damage to my cartilage,” confirmed the sergeant.

However, defending barrister Patsy Glennon took a novel tack at defending his client.

“She was in a coercive relationship and was at the receiving end of some horrific treatment,” he told the court.

“She was tied to a tree by her partner and horsewhipped, but he did serve time for this,” said Mr Glennon.

“My client has a video of the incident which I want you to watch, and I’ll be pleading for a reduction to Section 52 (careless driving),” he added.

“I can’t make any promises, if I believe in the law and the facts match dangerous driving, I’ll convict,” said the judge.

“The defendant has the video, but this is the first showing,” said Mr Glennon.

“How do I know this hasn’t been edited or doctored? And anyway, there’s been a guilty plea, it’s no longer an allegation. Your client is in danger of a prison sentence, so I want that video to be forwarded to the sergeant over lunchtime,” said the judge.

“The video is not 100 per cent helpful to my client,” said the barrister.

“She has admitted the offence, so I wish her well,” said the judge, before remanding Ms Owens on continuing bail until 8 July for sentencing.