A woman has pleaded guilty to drink-driving and dangerous-driving offences offences that left an off-duty senior Garda with “life changing injuries”.
Niamh McDonnell, 30, with an address at Gortskagh, Castlemahon, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty, Monday, before Limerick Circuit Court to two charges arising out of a collision in West county Limerick, on June 30, 2022.
Ms McDonnell was initially charged last December with eight offences arising out of the incident, which left Garda Inspector Niall Flood with serious injuries, including, dangerous driving causing serious injury; dangerous driving; drink driving; drug driving; no insurance; failing to stop following a collision; failing to offer assistance; and failing to keep a vehicle at or near the scene of the incident.
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The State accepted Ms McDonnell’s pleas to two charges, including one count of drink-driving, and, one count of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Flood.
Mr Flood, stationed at Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick City, was cycling along a stretch of the R522 at Conmore, Dromcollogher, last June, when a car driven by Ms McDonnell struck him.
Mr Flood sustained “life-changing injuries”, prosecution counsel Lilly Buckley BL, told Ms McDonnell’s arraignment hearing.
“It’s going to take the State some time to put the medical evidence together, and (Mr Flood’s) treatment is continuing,” Ms Buckley said.
Mr Flood was thrown from his bike in the impact and was treated at the scene by Gardai and paramedics before being airlifted by the Irish Community Air Ambulance charity, “CRITICAL”, to Cork University Hospital where he underwent surgery.
Mr Flood’s wife, Margaret Flood, attended Ms McDonnell’s arraignment hearing before Judge Tom O’Donnell.
The defendant did not speak during the hearing, other than to confirm she was pleading “guilty” to the two charges.
Brian McInerney SC, representing Ms McDonnell, asked that a pre-sentencing report be provided by the probation service.
Judge Tom O’Donnell granted this application and he remanded Ms McDonnell on continuing bail for the case to be mentioned before Limerick Circuit Court again on July 3, when a date for sentencing is expected to be scheduled.
On April 21 last, Michael Sheridan, the chief executive of CRITICAL, tweeted how he was grateful after the charity received a €20,000 donation from Mr Flood, which had been raised by his wife Margaret Flood and his Garda colleagues.
Tweeting a photograph of himself, along with Mr Flood, and a colleague, Mr Sheridan wrote: “It was a pleasure to meet with @GardaTraffic Inspector Niall Flood today. Niall was involved in an RTC last year whilst out cycling and at that time our helicopter responded to him. Today we received over €20,000 raised in gratitude to our charity.”
Speaking at the time of the collision, Limerick Fine Gael councillor and former joint policing committee member, Liam Galvin, described Mr Flood as an “excellent Garda”.
“It’s just heartbreaking, because Niall is an absolute gentleman, and has always had the community at heart, he is one of the good guys, and our thoughts are with him and his wife,” added Cllr Galvin.
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