A woman has told a court that no words can describe the family’s loss after their mother died in a road crash involving another driver who was a learner driver at the time. Geraldine Byrne was delivering a victim impact statement in which a 43-year-old woman pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 85-year-old Anne Marie Cooney, Glen Abhainn, Enfield. The accused – Georly George of Rye Ridge, Kilcock appeared at Trim Circuit Court.
Garda Jason Conroy gave evidence that a two-vehicle collision took place on the R148, Johnstown Road outside Enfield on 17 th July 2024. Ms Cooney was driving for a hair appointment at 2.15pm. She moved off from a green light across the junction before the defendant struck her vehicle from a sideways direction. The impact resulted in the two vehicles being pushed onto the pedestrian path. Gardai were delayed getting to the scene because of another incident but Sergeant Crowley, who lives near the scene, heard the crash and went to assist. He saw that Ms Cooney had a cut to her arm and neck and complained of pain while the defendant had a cut to the forehead, had blood on her
nose and was dazed. Both persons were brought to Blanchardstown Hospital.
Ms Cooney’s condition was initially seen as not serious but she deteriorated at the hospital and died later that night from her injuries. When the defendant was arrested she said that she drove past the traffic lights and alleged they were green at the time. She said she did not see the other car before driving through the junction. She was an unaccompanied driver at the time of the accident and was travelling to a driving lesson. She was fined and got penalty points for being unaccompanied.
In a victim impact statement her daughter Fiona O’Gorman told the court that her mother was “a typical granny with treats in her bags for her grandkids and was always gentle and kind”. She said her mother would always tell them “If you think you can’t think you can love anymore, you do”.
Another daughter Deirdre Byrne said that “no words can truly describe the devastation that has occurred”. She said she passed the scene of the crash when she goes to work and this was “a daily reminder of the trauma we have suffered”. Losing someone in those circumstances made it harder to process.
The eldest daughter of the family Yvonne Mahon said her mother was the rock that kept the family going. A son, Shane Cooney, said that his mental and physical health had deteriorated since his mother’s death. He criticised “needless delays” in getting the case to court – this was like “throwing a grenade in the family home”. Fatal crash reports on the news reminded him of what had happened whilst also making him think of the family and “the legal circus they have to go through”.
Defending barrister Paul Murray said that client had “missed a red light with tragic consequences”. His client was driving unaccompanied because her middle child was sick and getting treatment while her husband was taking care of the children. The court was told that the defendant, an Indian national, is a nurse at James Connolly Hospital who had been in Ireland since 2016 and had gained Irish citizenship. A number of references were handed to the court. She has three children one of whom has been diagnosed with autism. She takes part in Tidy Towns event, St Patrick’s Day events and events within the Indian community. A pastor submitted a letter describing how defendant had shown deep remorse and sorrow for what had happened and that the incident had affected her emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Judge John Martin said that everyone in the case wanted finality and wanted to see an outcome. With “some degree of internal reluctance” he adjourned the case for finalisation on 25 th June. He said there were 25 pages of litigation and victim impact statements to read. He said he was aware that this prolonged the family’s despair but that was not his intention whatsoever.
