Woman sent to circuit court for alleged Athy collision 

A woman who allegedly caused “catastrophic, life-changing injuries” to a motorcyclist is to face a circuit court trial.

Inna Perederii (44) of Rheban Manor, Athy appeared in Athy District Court facing a single charge of careless driving causing serious bodily harm.

The court heard how Ms Perederii had been driving on the Carlow Road at 6.30am on 15 February 2024 and in an attempt to turn right “collided with a motorcycle”.

Sergeant Dave Hanrahan listed some of the injuries, which included breaking two spinal vertebrae, a leg, a collarbone bone and some internal injuries.

“Catastrophic, life-changing injuries,” noted Judge Desmond Zaidan. “It’s a very serious allegation, he was almost paralysed.

“Causing serious bodily harm – these are the words of the DPP, so you can see why I refused jurisdiction."

He made that decision at Ms Perederii’s last appearance in January, when he was quite surprised the DPP had ruled the offence as “minor”, seeking “summary trial” in the lower district court.

“How can the DPP call this a minor offence?” he had asked rhetorically then.

“She pulled across oncoming traffic and it’s for summary disposal? Shocking! This is what I call an insult to the injured party,” the judge added.

This week, he turned to Sergeant Dave Hanrahan and asked him: “When can you have the book of evidence?”, and was told 22 July.

Having certified for a Russian translator for the defendant in January, the judge then turned to the translator, saying: “I will extend your linguistic skills to communicate with this man,” indicating Ms Perederii’s assigned solicitor Seamus Taaffe for subsequent attorney-client consultations.