Kilkenny driver blinded by sun knocked his neighbour into a ditch

A motorist who knocked down a neighbour because the ‘sun was in his eyes’ has been convicted of careless driving at Kilkenny District Court.

Stephen Brennan, The Glen, Ballyfoyle, pleaded guilty to the offence.

On September 10 last the injured woman was walking along the roadside, approaching the old community centre in Ballyfoyle, at approximately 7.15pm. She heard a car approaching and as she turned to see it, the vehicle hit her from behind.

The woman was lifted onto the windscreen and thrown into the ditch by the impact. She momentarily lost consciousness.

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The woman sustained a fractured vertebrae and injuries to her ankle, hand, shoulder as well as her neck ligaments.

Mr Brennan told gardaí the sun had been in his eyes and he simply didn’t see the woman.

Solicitor Chris Hogan said Mr Brennan and the injured woman are neighbours. The collision occurred on a narrow, country road. It was at dusk and the sun was low.

Mr Hogan said his client did not want to impart any blame at all on the pedestrian.

Following the accident, Mr Brennan did everything correctly, the solicitor said. He stayed at the scene, called emergency services and gave a statement to gardaí.

Mr Hogan said his client’s driving licence was essential to him as he runs a plant hire business. Mr Brennan was very apologetic, the solicitor added, and his insurance company had already accepted liability for the accident.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said it had been a ‘horrific day’ for the woman who was injured. She convicted Mr Brennan of careless driving and imposed a fine of €1,000.