An experienced cyclist who was out for a Sunday morning ride with a number of friends died when a dog ran out onto the road he was cycling down in October, 2020.
The case, resulting in the death of Patrick O’Brien (63), Carrignavar, Cork, came before Cork District Court yesterday. The dog owner - Michael Dunlea (60), Ballybrack, Carrignavar - had denied his dog ran onto the road but pleaded guilty to not having a licence for the dog in question and two other dogs.
However, while Dunlea denied his dog had gone out onto the road, the two cyclists with Mr O'Brien both testified the animal had run out and later identified it as Dunlea's Yorkshire Terrier. One of those cyclists also described seeing Mr O'Brien turn his handlebars slightly in a bid to avoid the dog, causing him to crash fatally, according to EchoLive.
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Though the dog owner denied the animal ever went onto the road, saying it was a house dog, Garda evidence during the case stated when a number of Garda members were examining the crash scene on the morning the fatality occurred, the dog had come down onto the road.
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Dunlea told the court this was only because members of his family were on the road with the gardaí at the time, adding this would never normally happen. However, he conceded that "anything is possible" when it came to the actions of animals.
After hearing evidence in the case, Judge Marian O’Leary fined Dunlea €300 for not having his dog under proper control in a public place. And fines of €325 were imposed over the fact the dog in question, and two others, were not licenced at the time.
Mr O'Brien was out cycling on the morning of Sunday, October 25th, 2020, when he came off his bike and died from his injuries after the dog ran onto the road and he tried to avoid it.
The court was told that Mr O'Brien was an experienced cyclist and was with others who were traveling in a range between 43.1kmph and 45.3kmph, which the court was told was not fast for such experienced cyclists.
Mr O'Brien was at the back of the small group and when the dog ran out and he crashed, he was on the road in an unresponsive state and with blood coming from his nose and ear. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.
