Woman and her daughters were left deeply traumatised after Monasterevin hit and run

A WOMAN told how a hit-and-run incident has left her and her two daughters deeply traumatised, when she delivered a victim impact statement at Portlaoise District court last week.

She spoke of the family’s devastation when the offender, Michael Ryan, Chapel Street, Toomevara, Nenagh, Co Tipperary pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, hit and run, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident on 8 March last year at Quinnsboro, Monasterevin, Co Kildare.

Garda Shane Monaghan told the court that on the night in question he responded to call about a two-vehicle traffic accident. When he arrived at the scene, he saw a Range Rover jeep with damage to front on the driver’s side. He said that the driver of the vehicle, who had two young girls with her, told him that the other driver had initially stopped and spoke to her, but left the scene. He said the woman told him that the man provided her with no appropriate information.

Garda Monaghan said that Mr Ryan had 18 previous convictions, the most recent in 2013 involving a public order incident and that the defendant had one previous road traffic conviction – drunk while in charge of a vehicle – dating back to 2008.

Defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that Mr Ryan had been out with a friend a few years ago. They were looking for the friend’s dog that had strayed and his friend suffered fatal injuries and that his client remained at the roadside attempting to resuscitate him, which led to him suffering health issues.

Taking the stand and delivering her victim impact statement, Carina Kelly said: ‘The 8th of March 2024 has been etched in my mind and my children’s minds forevermore. Thankfully, none of us have physical scars, but the psychological scars were very extensive.'

'I spent a long time afraid to drive the route where the incident happened, the same route that I go to my parents’ house, that I use multiple times every week.

‘The abusive behavior we experienced that night was both terrifying and disgusting in equal measure. It was dark at the time on a quiet, rural road. I genuinely feared for my safety and that of my children. Then, to add insult to injury, the driver drove away without offering any assistance. My children were screaming and it was cold and dark while we waited for an ambulance to come. We spent the night in A&E and got home the next morning.

‘Unfortunately, that was not the end of our anguish. For the next five weeks, my badly damaged car remained in the driveway and the driver of the other vehicle failed to engage with the insurance company.’ 

Mr Meagher said that his client was offering his sincerest apologies to both Ms Murphy and her two daughters for what happened on the night and since then.

Mr Ryan said: “I would like to pay for her counselling and any other costs that she has incurred.” Judge Andrew Cody asked what costs have been incurred to date. Ms Kelly said she did not have the details to hand, to which Mr Ryan said: “I don’t mind, whatever the costs are, I will pay them.” Mr Meagher said: “The speed of the impact was at a relatively very low level, because it cracked the bumper and broke the light above Ms Kelly’s vehicle. Mr Ryan was attempting to slow down. She was also attempting to slow down when the impact occurred.” Judge Cody asked how Mr Ryan was eventually tracked down.

Garda Monaghan replied: “It was through enquires at a licensed premises in Monasterevin.” Mr Meagher said that “Ms Kelly had written down the registration number of his car on her hand. He did stop and got out. He felt that he was in the right, initially. He is a man that deals with stressful situations, particularly of this nature, badly”.

The solicitor said that his 55-year-old client works as a carpenter, had been working in the locality and was going to his partner’s house at the time of the accident.

He said Mr Ryan travels extensively all over the country, has no penalty points and is normally a very careful driver.

“If it had been his habit of driving carelessly or dangerously, he would have come to garda attention before this. On the night, it was a back road and one that is the cause to a lot of accidents, of scraping-type accidents. It wasn’t the case that he careered straight into the front of her bonnet. He appreciates it was his fault and that he should have stayed at the scene and that he reacted poorly. He was emotionally triggered from his previous experience and having to deal with that tragedy over the last number of years,” said Mr Meagher.

Judge Cody asked at what time did the accident take place. Garda Monaghan replied “between 9.30pm and 9.40pm”.

“Had it anything to do with a public house that he was coming from?” asked Judge Cody. “You’re (Mr Meagher) putting forward a proposition that from a previous incident he panicked. Perhaps there might have been another reason?” Judge Cody went on to adjourn the case to 22 May for finalisation and for evidence of payment for Ms Kelly and her daughter’s counselling.