A 36-year old cyclist was yesterday convicted of careless driving after a judge found that he was travelling “at considerable speed” when he ‘rear-ended’ a parked car with a pensioner couple sitting in the front seat.
Before convicting Thomas Murphy of Moyhill, Cratloe, Co Clare, Judge Patrick Durcan said that “sometimes cyclists seem to have the view that they are exempt from road traffic laws”.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Durcan said that there is ‘increasing acrimony’ between the drivers of cars and cyclists and where the rights and wrongs are.
However, Judge Durcan said that it was very clear in this case that Mr Murphy was not looking where he was going on December 31st 2013
He sid: “Mr Murphy was travelling at some considerable speed when he effectively ‘rear ended’ the parked car. If it was a child in a buggy or a young mother with a pram, God only knows what would happened.”
Judge Durcan said that Mr Murphy had a obligation to other users on the road and had ‘seriously breached that obligation”.
He said: “I’m absolutely satisfied on the evidence that Mr Murphy rode the bike in a grossly careless manner for a number of reasons.”
In evidence, pensioner, Patrick O’Donoghue from Lahinch Rd, Ennistymon said that his wife was left ‘trembling with the shock’ after the bike impact which smashed their rear windscreen.
He said: “The glass came flying out to my feet. It was reckless cycling by the man.”
Mr O’Donoghue said that the impact had damaged the windscreen, boot door and back door.
Mr O’Donoghue said that he had pulled over to the hard-shoulder of the Ennis Limerick dual carriageway just past the Raddison hotel roundabout to see where
he and his wife would travel to for New Year’s Eve.
He said: “There was glass everywhere. It was frightening.”
Mr O’Donoghue said that there was very good visibility at the time of the accident which occurred at around mid-day. He said: “The weather couldn’t be better.”
Insp Tom Kennedy put it to Mr Murphy – who is unemployed and has no previous convictions – that he rode his Trek bike without due care and attention.
He said: “That is why you crashed into Mr O’Donoghue’s car.” Mr Murphy denied this.