A man has been jailed for three years after hitting a cyclist with his truck, which left him paralysed in Co Cork.
Tim Walsh (49) from Moneen in Glanworth has pleaded guilty to the offence of dangerous driving causing serious injury to 31 year old Vincent O’Driscoll, on the Cork to Macroom road last year.
The court was told that the victim was knocked off his bike and run over by the truck which was carrying a 42 tonne load as it overtook him. Doctors treating Mr O’Driscoll were not expecting him to survive, but he managed to pull through, but he is now paralysed. The court also heard that Mr Walsh failed to fix 70 defects on his truck, which included defective brakes, lights and a broken mirror which restricted his view.
Judge O Donnabhain told the court that he himself knew the particular stretch of road and for anyone to try overtaking there in a truck would be criminally negligent.
The judge sentenced Mr Walsh to four years in jail, but he has suspended the final year of the sentence, Mr Walsh has also been disqualified from driving for 15 years.