A Mayo woman who was seriously injured when she was knocked down by a Bus Éireann van in Ballina last year has said she ‘bears no grudge’ to the driver.
Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court heard that Ann Bourke (60) was briefly trapped under the van after the collision on Kevin Barry Street, Ballina on May 14, 2024.
She broke her wrist, shoulder blade and several ribs and spent two months in hospital, however Ms Bourke said she was ‘making a good recovery’, in a victim impact statement read out on her behalf.
The court heard Ms Bourke underwent several surgical interventions, had to take four months off work and has been left with a large plate in her arm and a visible scar.
John Regan (41) of Mountain View, Ballybrooney, Killala, Co Mayo, had pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm.
At a court sitting on Friday, Judge Eoin Garavan handed Regan 150 hours of community service to be completed within a year, in lieu of a seven-month sentence.
Judge Garavan said it had been a ‘serious lapse of judgement’ on Regan’s part, leading to a serious injury which could have been fatal.
‘He didn’t keep a proper lookout and I’ve no doubt it will never happen to him again,’ said the judge, noting that Regan had voluntarily completed a pro-social driving course after the incident.
The judge commended Ms Bourke, of Croy, Knockmore, Co Mayo, whom he described as a ‘hardworking, decent and generous lady’ who bears no grudge towards the driver of the van.
Judge Garavan said Regan was also a decent, family man and a hard worker who had been profoundly distressed by the incident and would live with it always.
Garda David Reilly told Pat Reynolds BL, prosecuting, that he was one of the first at the scene when Ms Bourke was run over by Regan as he drove out of the Bus Éireann garage.
The court heard that Ms Bourke was walking on the footpath in the Foxford direction as Regan drove onto Kevin Barry Street with the intention of turning left.
CCTV footage was played in court showing the Ford Transit van colliding with Ms Bourke causing her to fall to the ground.
Gda Reilly said Regan continued to drive for a number of yards before he saw Ms Bourke’s shopping bag on the ground and noticed something was trapped under his vehicle.
He passed a breath-test at the scene, made full admissions and was very distressed by what had happened, the court heard. He accepted full responsibility.
In her victim impact statement, Ms Regan said she had been heading to get a bus home from work when she was knocked underneath the van and her hand was trapped.
She spent two weeks in Galway University Hospital, a further four weeks in a nursing home and remained in pain when she returned to work four months later.
Ms Regan said she was down €3,000 from loss of earnings but was making a good recovery and was thankful for that.
Gda Reilly agreed with Diarmuid Connolly BL, defending, that Regan accepted full responsibility and just had not seen the pedestrian as he was driving.
‘It was a momentary lapse of judgement with monumental effects,’ said Mr Connolly, adding that Regan was deeply agitated, upset and remorseful for his actions.
The court heard Regan had wanted to meet Ms Bourke to apologise but was unable to do so because of Bus Éireann’s company policy.
‘Today was the first day that they met, they had a very friendly chat and she harbours no ill will towards him,’ said Mr Connolly.
Regan has no previous or subsequent convictions and is a married father-of-two with a longstanding history of employment.
Judge Garavan said both Regan and Ms Bourke were ‘honourable, community-based people’ and he wished them both well.