Serious accident on outskirts of Kilkenny City may have been caused by driver's brain bleed
A woman has been convicted of careless driving following a road collision in which both she and a driver of a second car were left with serious injuries.
Kilkenny District Court was told the collision occurred on August 7, 2025, at approximately 6.20pm, close to the entrance to the Lyrath Estate, in Purcellsinch.
Gardaí attended the scene, along with firebrigade and ambulance services.
A garda spoke to the driver of one car, Patricia Stapleton, Knocksquire, Borris, Carlow, who said she was ‘a bit tired’ and he left the car window open for her.
She had also said the same to another emergency worker at the scene.
‘Over and back’
There were four witnesses to the collision the court heard, three motorist in cars that had been travelling behind Ms Stapleton.
They told gardaí that the car being driven by Ms Stapleton was going ‘over and back’ before the accident and they did not see brake lights on the car.
The SMax being driven by Ms Stapleton crossed the white line and collided with a car being driven by another woman.
Injuries
The injured woman driver of the other car was taken to hospital where she was treated for an arm laceration, an injury to her spleen and a fractured breast bone.
A 15 year-old also in the other car had minor bruising to her hips and shoulder but no serious injuries.
Ms Stapleton also attended hospital and was diagnosed with a bleed to the left side of her brain.
She had a neck fracture, a collapsed lung and a fractured breast bone.
The garda said Ms Stapleton had never been in trouble and had no previous convictions.
She made a voluntary statement to gardaí as part of the investigation.
A solicitor for Ms Stapleton said a medical consultant thought the brain bleed may have caused the accident but there was no conclusive evidence it had happened before the collision.
He said Ms Stapleton is 75 and her husband has passed away since this collision. She lives in a rural area and needs her car.
She was driving into Kilkenny to do her shopping, on this day.
She does not recall the accident but does recall talking to the gardaí at the scene.
Remorse
Judge Geraldine Carthy said that the facts of the case were quite stark.
Mitigation included the guilty plea, while aggravating factors included the seriousness of the impact and injuries sustained.
The judge said she did not doubt Ms Stapleton’s remorse, however it was a very serious matter.
Convicting Ms Stapleton of careless driving she imposed a fine of €700 and disqualified her from driving for one year.
Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.