A man charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Dublin club cyclist Tonya McEvoy has been found not guilty by a jury at Naas Circuit Criminal Court.
Kevin Hutchinson, a 29-year-old with an address at
Robertstown West, Robertstown, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty to dangerous
driving causing the death of Ms McEvoy.
The fatal crash, during an Orwell Wheelers group ride,
occurred on February 12th, 2017, at Rathcoffey, Co Kildare.
At the conclusion of his trial today Mr Hutchinson was cleared of the charge of dangerous driving causing death. He was also acquitted of the alternative, lesser, charge of careless driving causing Ms McEvoy’s death, which was available to the jury. The verdict of the jury was unanimous.
Ms McEvoy, a 34-year-old childcare worker from Moyville,
Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, was killed on a club group ride. She was in collision
with a vehicle at Rathcoffey, Co Kildare.
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During Mr Hutchinson’s trial, which was moved to Drogheda,
Co Louth, because of Covid19-related restrictions at Naas court house, a number
of cyclists who were on the group ride gave evidence.
They said when they saw the oncoming vehicle approaching
them they were concerned about its speed and/or the manner of the driving.
However, the court was told that Mr Hutchinson was forced
out into the road a little because of cars parked illegally at the roadside.
The vehicles, the court heard, had been parked there by people attending a
nearby mass.
Mr Hutchinson said he had returned to his own side of the road after passing the parked vehicles. His partner, who was in the car with him at the time, said as they approached the group she saw what she described as a "wobble" within the group.
A forensic report on the crash prepared by gardai also
concluded Ms McEvoy was already falling or was on the ground when hit by Mr
Hutchinson’s Audi A4.
Judge Patrick Quinn offered his condolences to Ms McEvoy’s
family, saying while her life had been short it had been a good life. He said
there were no winners in the case.
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