A young man and much loved father and husband; he was killed out training on a Saturday morning. The driver has now been convicted but will not spend time in prison.
Donal O'Brien killed cycling in Cork, driver gets suspended sentence
A motorist who killed cyclist Donal O’Brien while he was on a training ride has been given a suspended sentence after a court was told she was traumatised by what had happened.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court was told Maria Harkin, Weston View, Carrigaline, Co Cork, was in her car with two young children when she killed Mr O’Brien on May 14th, 2017.
She was driving at Curraheen on the N40 Ballincollig bypass when one of her children wanted to remove a tag from toys they had just bought in a shop.
Harkin turned around to respond to her child and her car veered left and hit Donal O’Brien who was cycling on the same road at the time; around 12.30pm.
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The father of one was hit from behind and killed. He was wearing all the recommended safety kit, including hi-vis clothing though training in daylight hours.
Mr O’Brien (45) is survived by his wife Sandra and daughter Nicole.
Sandra O’Brien said when Donal left home that Saturday morning for his training ride she never imagined she would never see him again.
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Nicole said her dad was the “go to guy for everything” and she was lost without him.
Judge O Donnabhain said neither speed nor alcohol consumption were factors in the case. However, he described Harkin taking her eyes off the road as very careless.
But he said Harkin had cooperated with the gardai and had no previous convictions. He imposed a 12-month jail term and suspended it.
It means Harkin has been convicted of causing Donal O’Brien’s death through careless driving but she will spend no time in prison. She was banned from driving for five years.
Sgt Pat Lyons told the court Harkin had just been to Smyth’s Toys and had turned to her children in the car. The lapse in concentration had had devastating consequences.
“I would describe it as momentary lapse in concentration with catastrophic consequences,” the Garda officer told the court.
Sgt Lyons added Harkin was very traumatised and had cooperated with the Garda inquiry.
Out cycling at the time to keep fit, Mr O’Brien owned his own car garage. He was a well known figure in Irish motor sport.
From Ovens, Co Cork, Mr O’Brien died at the scene of the collission near Exit 1 on the Ballincollig bypass.
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