A PENSIONER who suffered a medical event during a collision with a cyclist has been convicted of road traffic offences and fined €150.

Noelle O’Donoghue (73), of Darrara, Clonakilty, pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to careless driving, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, failing to report an accident and failing to give appropriate information.

The court heard that at around 10am on May 25th last, a cyclist reported at Clonakilty Garda Station that he had been knocked off his bike and had suffered minor injuries.

Gardaí were told that he was cycling from Inchydoney to Clonakilty, and came to the roundabout at Croppy Quay when a car coming from Casement Street knocked him off the bike.

The car stopped and members of the public came to assist him, but  the car then reversed and drove around the cyclist before stopping at the Spar shop nearby.

‘It remained there for a couple of minutes before driving away. The owner did not get out of the car at the time,’ said Sgt Tom Mulcahy.

The court heard that Mrs O’Donoghue has no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said his client had no recollection of the incident.

‘She went to the GP immediately who sent her for a neurological assessment,’ said Mr Taaffe.

Mrs O’Donoghue was a diabetes patient, had fasted for mass and not taken her medication that morning.

‘As a consequence there was an amnesia,’ said Mr Taaffe.

‘She is hugely apologetic.’

A neurological report was handed into Judge Joanne Carroll.

She convicted and fined the defendant €150 for careless driving, and struck out the charges of failing to remain at the scene, failing to report and failing to give appropriate information. 

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.