A Cratloe farmer has been found Not Guilty of Dangerous Driving causing the death of an elderly woman in Bunratty two years ago.
But John Boyce of Moyhill, Cratloe has been convicted of careless driving arising out of the death of a German Tourist outside Bunratty Folk Park in October 2010.
76-year-old Inge Schmidt was knocked down by John Boyce’s tractor on a pedestrian crossing at Low Road, Bunratty on October 29th 2010.
The trial had heard a front loader attached to the tractor and windscreen wipers not working would have obstructed Mr Boyce’s view – the trial was told that it was raining at the time of the accident.
The court had earlier heard that Mr Boyce told gardai he saw everyone else but not the German tourist, and that he had admitted he had a share of the blame.
The Jury at Ennis Circuit court took just over an hour and a half to unanimously find the 57 year old guilty on the lesser charge of Careless driving last evening,after Judge Gerald Keyes told them that they had the option of returning such a verdict.
The judge adjourned sentencing in the case, which is due for mention again before the court next Tuesday.
