Fine for young Cork farmer whose careless driving resulted in neighbour being hospitalised for 51 days

A FARMER whose careless driving of a tractor and trailer caused life-changing injuries for a motorcyclist faced sentencing for the offence yesterday.

John Lordan, aged 23, of Lissacroneen, Ballineen, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to the charge of careless driving causing serious harm to the other man near both of their homes at Derriga West, Ballineen.

Judge John Martin noted the extremely Christian view of the injured man whose life had been affected so seriously.

The injured party said he had no ill will towards the driver of the tractor and hoped that no sentence would inhibit him going forward as he is a young man starting out in life and did not intend harm to come to anyone that day.

Sergeant Ruairí Gunn testified that the injuries sustained by the motorcyclist on June 15, 2021, resulted in his hospitalisation for 51 days with head injuries and numerous other injuries.

The long-distance motorcyclist struggles with the fact that he is no longer able to engage fully in what was a passionate interest for him.

He has travelled through Europe, India, and Africa by motorbike and was left to consider the fact that his life-changing injuries were sustained only a few miles from his home. He feels he will never truly be himself again.

Judge Martin said a prison sentence would not be appropriate in the case where there were a number of mitigating factors and an absence of aggravating ones.

“One aggravating factor you cannot get away from is the consequences of your carelessness for the injured party,” he said.

The judge also acknowledged that there was no doubt the effect of the incident on the defendant also who was fully remorseful.

Judge Martin said that in all the circumstances, a €3,000 fine was appropriate.