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Donal O'Regan, 13 Nov
A GARDA inspector who was knocked down by a drunk female motorist, who
then failed to remain at the scene, has described how she “left me to
die at the side of the road”.
In a victim impact statement, Insp Niall Flood, who has been left with
life-changing injuries including the amputation of a foot, said the
accused’s actions were “unforgivable and incomprehensible”.
Niamh McDonnell, aged 30, of Gortskagh, Castlemahon, Limerick pleaded
guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving,
drug driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision.
The offences occurred at Clonmore, Dromcollogher in west Limerick on
June 30, 2022.
At Limerick Circuit Court this Monday, prosecuting barrister Lily
Buckley, instructed by Kerry State Solicitor Diane Reidy, outlined the
evidence with the assistance of Detective Sergeant Michael Reidy.
Ms Buckley said Ms McDonnell left work (at a creche) on the date in
question at around 2.20pm / 2.30pm and went to a pub with a colleague.
Ms Buckley said the defendant consumed five vodka and Red Bulls
followed by five shots which included two flatliners - a combination of
tequila and sambuca - a shot containing red and blue Aftershock
liqueur, a shot of Sheep Dog whiskey and a butter ball which is
butterscotch schnapps and Baileys.
Ms McDonnell was dropped back to her car, declined a lift home, got
into a Volkswagen Passat, owned by her mother-in-law, and drove home.
She texted the colleague she had been drinking with later that night
saying: “Why did I drive?”
Ms Buckley said Insp Flood (pictured below) had finished work shortly
after 5pm and went for a cycle.
Det Sgt Reidy said Insp Flood, who at the time of the incident had 27
years service, was an avid cyclist who cycled 200kms a week. He said
the inspector was wearing high visibility cycling gear with a flashing
light on his back and was cycling on the edge of a straight road.
Ms Buckley said an eyewitness observed the Volkswagen being driven
“erratically and too fast”.
Det Sgt Reidy said according to the forensic collision investigator it
was a “glancing blow” as Ms McDonnell attempted to overtake the
cyclist.
“His foot became trapped between the headlight and wing of the car. He
came back on the windscreen and landed 15 or 16 metres further away in
a drain,” said Det Sgt Reidy, who added that there were no skid marks
from the car or the bike.
Such was the damage to the vehicle, the detective sergeant thought it
had been involved in a collision with another car when he saw it.
Ms Buckley said the amputated foot in the car was discovered when Ms
McDonnell returned home. She then told her partner she thought she had
hit someone and he went to look at the car. Emergency services were
contacted by the partner on Ms McDonnell's phone.
Det Sgt Reidy said Insp Flood was in a dyke, submerged in water up to
his chest area. Passers-by had come to Insp Flood’s aid and an
improvised tourniquet was made in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
“He found himself to be totally blind due to the shock to his system
caused by the impact. He was aware he had suffered a significant leg
injury. He would have been in and out of consciousness. There was
genuine concern for the welfare of Niall Flood,” said Det Sgt Reidy.
Insp Flood was subsequently taken by air ambulance to Cork University
Hospital.
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Motorist admits new charges over collision in which senior Limerick
garda was seriously injured
The injuries Insp Floor sustained included a traumatic amputation of a
foot, open fracture to the left shoulder, renal laceration, injuries to
his right arm, spinal injuries. He is currently being fitted for a
prosthesis - a process which is ongoing.
Det Sgt Reidy said Ms McDonnell stated, in one of her first interviews
after she was arrested, that she had smoked cannabis before work, had
consumed one Red Bull and vodka, that a cyclist was in the middle of
the road and wouldn’t move despite her beeping at him.
Det Sgt Reidy said as more evidence was put to her she “progressively”
made admissions. Ms Buckley said that Ms McDonnell told gardai that if
she could give Insp Flood her leg she would.
The court heard Ms McDonnell told gardai: “I freaked out. I didn’t mean
to leave him there.”
Insp Flood’s wife Margaret read out her victim impact statement. She
said the phone call she received on June 30, 2022, changed her life
forever. She said she was afraid her husband was going to die.
“He almost lost his fight to survive and I almost lost him,” said Ms
Flood, who only learned that her husband’s foot had been trapped in the
car Ms McDonnell was driving from media reports.
Ms Flood said Ms McDonnell “drove off and left him for dead” adding: “I
can’t comprehend a human doing that. You wouldn’t do it to a dog.”
Ms Flood, spoke of the six months her husband spent, in total, in
hospitals and the ongoing medical appointments which, she said, are all
due to the actions of the defendant
“Our lives will never be the same again,” said Ms Flood.
[NCW_Demolition_garda_station-1699878665381.jpg--step_one_of_site_clear
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Step one of site clearance for new Limerick garda HQ underway
Insp Flood’s victim impact statement was read out by Ms Buckley. He had
intended on attending court but couldn’t due to a lung infection.
Insp Flood outlined how while lying in a drain, he was unable to see
but knew his foot had been amputated.
The court heard of the “excruciating pain” he was in for weeks.
Insp Flood wrote that he has thought about how different things would
be if she (Ms McDonnell) did not drive that evening.
“She left me to die on the side of the road. Why didn’t you stop? In
fact, why did you drive?” wrote Insp Flood, who intends to return to An
Garda Siochana.
The victim impact statement said that he cycled, swam or ran five times
a week prior to the incident.
“I get angry that I can't do the things I did before. I can’t take part
in physical activities like I did before,” wrote Insp Flood.
His statement concluded by saying the accused’s criminal act of drink
and drug driving turned his life and his family’s lives on their heads
forever.
Brian McInerney SC, defence barrister, said Ms McDonnell has instructed
him to apologise unreservedly. He said what occurred was
“unforgivable”.
“If it was open to her she would reverse time or sacrifice whatever she
could but that is not possible,” said Ms McInerney, who asked Judge Tom
O’Donnell to take into account her early pleas and early admissions
made progressively during garda interviews.
“She accepts she should have stopped. She accepts she shouldn’t have
driven. She has no criminal convictions. She has a strong work ethic, a
partner and is the mother of two young children,” said Mr McInerney.
The senior counsel spoke of Ms McDonnell’s “traumatic and horrible”
experience in childhood and her mental health struggles.
“She will have to live with this for the rest of her life. She brought
it upon herself,” said Mr McInerney, who described Insp Flood, who the
barrister knows from the courts, as a person of “tremendous character”.
Judge Tom O’Donnell said he did not wish to rush to judgement.
“This is a very, very serious case. I want to consider the profound
victim impact statements and various reports,” said Judge O’Donnell,
who adjourned sentencing to November 24.