Judge dismisses careless driving case over 'road dip'
Judge says it was "only by the grace of God that nobody died"
A careless driving charge arising from a serious collision at the Four Provinces junction, Rathallen, Boyle was dismissed after a judge found evidence of a dip in the road created reasonable doubt about what drivers could see before the crash. Paula Hughes, of Ardlavagh, Carrick-on-Shannon, had been charged with careless driving following a collision on July 19, 2024, involving her silver Skoda Rapid and a blue Opel Astra driven by Brendan King.
The court heard Ms Hughes was returning home with her two daughters when the collision occurred as she attempted to turn right at the Four Provinces junction. Following the impact, Ms Hughes told the court she feared the vehicle would catch fire after it filled with smoke. She managed to get both daughters out of the car, carrying one daughter to safety after her foot became trapped.
Mr King told the court he was travelling from Boyle when a vehicle suddenly appeared in front of him. "It literally was in front of me," he said. Ms Hughes maintained she had slowed at the junction, checked for traffic and believed it was safe to turn.
Independent witness John O'Driscoll, who was stopped at the junction at the time, described her manoeuvre as "slow and careful" and said there was a dip in the road approaching from the Boyle direction. Investigating Garda, Garda Colm Stenson, also confirmed there was a dip on the approach to the junction. In his judgment, Judge Ciaran Liddy said the evidence raised the possibility that an approaching vehicle could have been obscured from view. "What we're dealing with is a situation that Miss Hughes did check the road in front of her," he said.
"However, owing to this dip, neither party had a proper view of the other vehicle." Judge Liddy said he was not satisfied the prosecution had proven careless driving beyond a reasonable doubt. "In the circumstances, I dismiss." The judge noted the collision caused significant damage to both vehicles and remarked that it was "only by the grace of God that nobody died in it."