A 91-year-old woman in Bandon had both legs broken when she was hit by a car driven by John O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Despite the severity of her injuries, Judge Helen Boyle handed O’Sullivan a sentence of six months suspended and did not impose any disqualification from driving as there were no aggravating circumstances, such as speed or previous convictions. The incident occurred at Allen Square, Bandon, in July 2021, where the elderly woman was crossing the road. O’Sullivan claimed that he was taking a right turn at a junction, and the elderly woman was partially obscured by a vehicle coming from the west. Although the injured party was fit and diligently recovered from her injuries, she spent three months in the hospital. The defendant cared for his mother, and he had a lengthy commute to and from his workplace. Concerning the incident, the defendant took complete responsibility, admitted liability in a civil case, and paid the necessary compensation.
