Woman brought to Tullamore Hospital with brain bleed after hotelier crashed into her car

A woman who suffered a bleed to the brain after a hotelier rear ended her car in the Midlands was brought to Tullamore Hospital.

Con Maloney (67) of Abbeyleix Road, Ballyroan, was accused of dangerous driving at Ballaghmore Upper, Borris-in-Ossory on May 28 last. 

He entered a plea of guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving which doesn’t attract an immediate disqualification. 

Garda Ciaran O’Mahoney responded to the crash on the R445 at 10.39am on the date in question. He said a black Ford Ranger was on the road and a blue 152D registered Suzuki Swift car was in the ditch. He said a woman was in the car which had been severely damaged in the collision. 

He said CCTV footage showed that the defendant had rear ended the car. The woman was taken to Tullamore Hospital where it was revealed “she had a bleed on the brain” and had “snapped her cruciate ligament.” 

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Garda O’Mahoney said the woman is expected to recover but she still has slurred speech and difficulty concentrating. He said she was turning right when the collision occurred. 

“She was stopped in the middle of the road turning right and he came behind her and collided with her,” he explained. 

Judge Andrew Cody said a charge of dangerous driving causing serious injury could have been brought in the case. 

Garda O’Mahoney said “at the time her injuries weren’t brought to our attention.” 

A solicitor for the accused said his client had been driving for 45 years without even getting points on his licence. 

“He lives in Co Laois but has a hotel business in South Wales,” he said. 

On the date in question his client had been distracted by two incidents, he said. Firstly, the man had just received word that his wife’s sister had suffered a heart attack, he said. 

Secondly, he said there was advertising signage for “new modular homes” on the road and a sign had become “dislodged and was flapping” which he said “momentarily” distracted him. 

He said his client needs his licence as he travels a lot between Wales and Laois. He also said the man had no previous convictions. 

Judge Cody said “the injuries are serious and it was quite a severe accident.” 

However, he said he was satisfied that the offence was one of careless driving due to momentary distraction. He then reduced the dangerous driving charge to careless driving. 

The solicitor said his client ran a hotel business which employed around 50 people. He said the loss of his licence would be “a huge blow” for him. 

Judge Cody wished the injured lady “the very best in recovery” and convicted and fined the man €750 for careless driving.