Tipperary woman Mary Lowry appears before court on careless driving causing death charge

Tipperary woman Mary Lowry appeared in court on Tuesday morning on a charge of careless driving causing the death of a cyclist.

Ms Lowry (57), of Green Road, Dundrum, county Tipperary, appeared at Clonmel Circuit Court, accused of causing the death of Patrick Connolly over three years ago.
Mary Lowry appeared before Judge Catherine Staines in Clonmel for sentencing on Tuesday morning.

Mention of her case, listed at number 63 in the list, came at the end of a long call over of cases.
She sat in the public gallery at the back of the court for the duration of the lengthy call over.
When her case was called out Pádraig de Búrca, BL , acting for Ms Lowry, asked Judge Staines to put the case into the list for sentence on March 21.

The adjournment was consented to by State prosecution counsel, David Humphries, BL.
Judge Staines agreed to the request and adjourned the matter to the sittings of Clonmel Circuit Court on March 21.
The defendant was remanded on continuing bail until March 21.
Mary Lowry has pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing the death of Patrick Connolly (51) of Skeheenarinky, on December 28th, 2021.

The offence on the statute book is contrary to contrary to section 52(1) & 52(2)(a) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (as substituted by section 4 of the Road Traffic (No. 2) Act 2011).
It is alleged that on December 28, 2021, on the N24 at Springhouse, Bansha, county Tipperary, Ms Lowry did drive a vehicle, without due care and attention, thereby causing the death of another person, namely Patrick Connolly.

CHARITY CYCLE
On the date in question, it is understood that Mr Connolly, from Skeheenarinky, was participating in a charity bike outing before suffering serious injuries in the alleged incident. He died in hospital five days later.
If convicted, Ms Lowry faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison, and/or a fine not exceeding €10,000.
Appearing before Nenagh District Court last year, Ms Lowry was granted bail by Judge John King after being served a book of evidence.
Ms Lowry was initially charged with the offence in November 2022 at a sitting of Thurles District Court.