Michael Vines (78), of Red Bog, Blessington, County Wicklow, appeared for sentencing at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court. He had pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing grievous bodily harm.
Garda Theresa Hegarty from Blessington Garda Station testified that in September 2021, at the Maxol garage near the N81 road to Dublin, Mr Vines’s vehicle collided with a motorcyclist while attempting to turn right.
A witness statement read to the court stated that the pensioner drove out onto the path of the motorcycle and struck the rider, forcing the bike to slide across the road.
The accident led the victim to undergo surgery to amputate his lower left leg. He was not present in court and declined to provide a victim impact statement.
A medical report provided to the court stated that the injured party underwent a vascular bypass and continues to suffer ongoing phantom pain while using his prosthesis.
Gda Hegarty said the victim’s recovery was described as “miraculous”. She added that the accused was not initially arrested, but was cooperative with the investigation.
Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly, enquired as to how the victim is progressing, with the court hearing that he is getting on “okay”.
The court also heard that Mr Vines has since received a subsequent conviction for careless driving.
Mr Vines had been scheduled to go on trial, and a jury was sworn in before he entered a guilty plea.
Counsel for the defence stated that the part of the N81 where the incident happened is considered an accident hotspot and that the defendant had a “spotless” driving record over his 60-year driving career.
The defence argued that Mr Vines accepted responsibility and that, while it is tragic the motorcyclist lost his leg, the incident did not involve any “speed, drugs or bravado”.
The court was told that Mr Vines relies on his car as he lives in a remote part of Wicklow and is on a state pension.
Mr Vines enrolled in a driver awareness course following his District Court conviction and was described as anxious to “show his awareness for road safety”.
During sentencing, Judge Patrick Quinn stated that it took Mr Vines four years to accept his guilt and that he should have “fessed up to a momentary lapse and apologised”.
He imposed a sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for a period of 12 months, along with a five-year driving ban.
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