Parties involved in Kildare road collision knew each other
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A man who reversed a car out into the path of a motorcycle, which led to the rider requiring surgery, was convicted of careless driving and fined €750, but held onto his licence.
Before Athy District Court last week was Patrick Hayden (63) of Walterstown, Nurney, who had already pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier appearance and was in court last week (14 January) for sentence.
The collision occurred at Mount Hawkins on 23 March last year.
“Mr Hayden reversed his car out into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. The rider needed surgery but will make a full recovery. There was no speed and minimal damage, there were no broken bones, but the injured party crushed a vein and needed vascular surgery,” said Sergeant Dave Hanrahan.
The investigating garda Kevin Byrne said the families know each other, but that “there has been contact, and there’s no malice. It was an unfortunate accident".
He revealed that Mr Hayden had no previous convictions. Garda Byrne added: “He co-operated fully. Mr Hayden was attending a funeral at the time. This could’ve been a tragic accident, but he called 999."
“My client is 63 years old, and where he lives is four miles from the supermarket, and 12 miles from his GP, so I would ask the court for its discretion and to be as lenient as possible,” said defending barrister Anne Doyle.
Judge Desmond Zaidan accepted this plea and instead of a ban fined him €750, giving him six months to pay.
