A motorist has been found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of cyclist 18 months ago.
A motorist who admitted hitting a cyclist who died from his injuries had been cleared of dangerous driving causing death.
Nicola O’Rourke (44) told her trial she was blinded by the sun when she hit Matt Walsh, Knockrooskey, Westport, Co Mayo, on the morning of January 10th, 2015.
The car Ms O’Rourke was driving hit Mr Walsh from behind, causing him fatal spinal chord injuries which he died from at the scene.
She said the first she knew of Mr Walsh on the road ahead of her or that she had hit him was when she heard a thud and looked in her rear view mirror to see his body on the road.
Ms O’Rourke from The Harbour, The Quay, Westport, was acquitted on the charge of dangerous driving causing death.
The jury at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court was unable to reach a unanimous verdict having gone out last Friday to consider their verdict Judge Rory McCabe said he would accept a majority verdict.
The jury found her not guilty of dangerous driving causing death by a majority of 11 to 1.
The court was told Mr Walsh was cycling at Gurteen, Aughagower, Westport, when he was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by Ms O’Rourke, who said she was blinded by the glare of the lowing morning sun.
Mr Walsh was wearing a hi-vis vest and a helmet and rode that stretch of the L1816 regularly. Ms O’Rourke also knew the road well having lived in the area for 12 years.
The prosecution in the case argued the acquitted woman could have taken evasive action rather than continue to drive while blinded by the sun.
She had the visor down and was not wearing sunglasses, explaining when she took a bend just before she hit Mr Walsh she was blinded by the sun’s glare.
She added that two of three seconds after being suddenly blinded by the sun she hit the dead man.
