A motorist who knocked a pregnant woman over at a petrol forecourt, breaking both her legs, came before the district court for careless driving this week.
Michael Hoban, 1 Meadow Park, Castlebar, pulled into Cosgrove's Filling Station on the Westport Road on October 1 last.
Solicitor for Mr Hoban, Pat Moran, said his client pulled into the filling station in a normal manner. There was no suggestion of speed involved. For some reason, he became startled that his car had “moved off a straight line”.
He went to brake but inadvertently hit the accelerator instead, striking the woman, Patricia Flynn from Aughagower.
Ms Flynn was six months pregnant at the time. Her pregnancy was not harmed however Ms Flynn is still recovering from her injuries, which included broken legs, and did not attend the court hearing as she was undergoing physiotherapy.
Judge Deirdre Gearty said petrol forecourts are congested areas with a lot of pedestrian traffic.
She imposed a fine of €500.
