A farmer who ran over an elderly German tourist with his 1980- registered tractor at one of the country’s best-known tourist spots was fined €1,250 yesterday.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Gerald Keys said that banning John Boyce (57), Moyhill, Cratloe, Co Clare, a father of two, from driving would be akin to taking tools from a tradesman.

At the court earlier last month, a jury unanimously found Boyce guilty of careless driving relating to the fatal crash of his Massey Ferguson tractor into Inge Schmidt (76) at a pedestrian crossing at Low Road, Bunratty, on October 29th, 2010.

Boyce was tried on the charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Schmidt but the jury unanimously cleared him of that.

At the sentencing hearing yesterday, Judge Keys said there were a number of aggravating factors.

These included the condition of Boyce’s tractor, in … Read More »

A woman who was trapped on a bus when a Luas tram collided with it on Dublin’s O’Connell Street has settled her High Court action.

Frances Kelly (76), of Tolka Road, Ballybough, Dublin, was a passenger on the No 16 bus when the crash occurred at the junction of Middle Abbey Street and O’Connell Street on September 16th, 2009 injuring 21 people. Ms Kelly was trapped on the bus for about 30 minutes, and suffered multiple crush injuries, including fractures to her knee, wrist and nose.

Ms Kelly had sued Veolia Transport Ireland Ltd, operators of the Luas service, who had denied her claims, including claims of negligence and breach of duty.

When the case was called before Ms Justice Mary Irvine yesterday she was told the matter had been settled and could be struck out. It is understood Ms Kelly is to … Read More »

A €4.25 million settlement has been approved by the High Court for a boy who is paraplegic as a result of devastating injuries suffered by him six years ago, when a car driven by his mother was involved in a head-on collision with a truck.

Seán McCullagh, now 10, was a back-seat passenger in a belted-in booster seat in the car at the time of the crash, which occurred on Ballycoolin Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin, in February 2006 when his mother swerved to avoid a pothole. He suffered catastrophic injuries.

Mr Justice Gerard Hogan in the High Court heard that the truck driver was exonerated of any blame in the matter.

Seán, through his father Rory, Summerfield Avenue, Blanchardstown, had brought proceedings against his mother as the insured driver of the car.

Liability was accepted and the case was before Mr Justice Hogan for assessment … Read More »