Woman knocked child down at pedestrian crossing in Laois

A woman was blinded by the sun when she knocked down a girl at a pedestrian crossing in Portlaoise, a court has heard.

Inga Leszczynska (31) of 72 College Avenue, Mountmellick, appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of dangerous driving on the Stradbally Road, Portlaoise on May 15, 2024. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the injured party was a 12-year-old girl and the incident had occurred at about 7.30pm. He said the girl was on a pedestrian crossing when she was struck by a car and she suffered a fractured ankle.

Sgt Kirby said the defendant had no previous convictions. She told gardai that the “sun was blinding her view” and she hadn’t seen the girl crossing.  Sgt Kirby said neither the young girl or her mother wanted to come to court. 

Andrew Dunne BL said “an insurance claim has already happened.” He said his client was a duty manager at Lidl. 

“Unfortunately the child was on a scooter and got hit,” said Mr Dunne.

 Mr Dunne asked that the court consider reducing the offence from dangerous driving, which carries an automatic disqualification, to one of careless driving, where the judge has discretion in relation to a driving ban.

He said his client had never been in trouble before and needed her car to get to work. 

Judge Andrew Cody said it appeared the woman had been “momentarily inattentive” and he agreed to reduce the case to one of careless driving. 

He didn’t disqualify the woman but imposed a €500 fine and gave the woman six months to pay.