Careless conviction after cyclist injured

A CYCLIST told Wexford District Court how he was left with lasting injury as a result of the careless driving of Tom Connors (23) from 6 Vale Road, Arklow.

The accused motorist admitted cutting in too quickly after overtaking the bike ridden by Francis Burke on the afternoon of July 3 in 2015.

The ill-judged manoeuvre occurred at Belvedere Road, not far from the courthouse where the matter was considered by Judge John Cheatle.

Mr Burke was obliged to brake as he was faced with the Ford Transit driven by Connors, striking the kerb and tumbling from his bike.

The injured man was sworn in to give victim impact evidence of what happened as a result of the accident which left him with a double fracture of an elbow.

He was initially brought by ambulance to Wexford General and later referred on for surgery in Waterford and then Tallaght. He was out of work for two months and required therapy for a year.

Though he now has use of his hand, he cannot now rotate the affected arm fully.

Solicitor Tim Cummings assured the court that compensation had been paid to Mr Burke by his client’s insurers.

The road in question is very narrow at 31 feet wide, reckoned Mr. Cummings, with no cycle lane. He offered the unemployed defendant’s apology for the misjudgement which led to the accident.

The accused father of two was convicted of careless driving and fined €350.