A woman who drove a car into a group of pedestrians last October, seriously injuring them, has been remanded in continuing custody for sentencing.
Chloe McNamara (20) with an address at Sarsfield Gardens, Moyross, Limerick, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to hit-and-run related charges.
An earlier hearing at Limerick District Court heard she had ploughed into the victims at Cornmarket Row in Limerick on October 10th, 2021, immediately leaving the scene in a red Audi A4.
Video footage was played in court which, gardaí said, showed the car being driven by McNamara into a group of pedestrians.
The footage showed a car strike the pedestrians from behind, causing them to be flung into the air by the impact, before the car left the scene.
McNamara has been in custody since last October after being refused bail at Limerick District Court.
Gardaí objected to bail on a number of grounds, including the seriousness of the charges, the belief McNamara was a flight risk, and fears she would intimidate witnesses.
Garda Patricia McCormack from Henry Street Garda station had told the court gardaí responded to a report of a “hit-and-run road traffic collision” at 1.10am on the morning in question.
Garda McCormack said paramedics were already at the scene treating three injured pedestrians who were “lying on the road”.
She said these three pedestrians had been taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick (UHL), including a man who sustained “serious head and spinal injuries”, in addition to two women who sustained “serious neck and back injuries”.
Another female pedestrian presented at UHL with injuries sustained in the incident, the court heard.
Nighclub quarter
Garda McCormack said the CCTV footage showed the red Audi A4 entering Cornmarket Row at 1.03am, when the nightclub quarter was busy with "a large crowed of people out socialising".
"The red Audi can be seen hitting and knocking down three pedestrians," the garda added.
Garda McCormack said the car was discovered at Knockalisheen by gardaí 15 minutes after the incident, and “there was blood visible on the front windscreen and bonnet of the car”.
In objecting to bail, Garda McCormack said she believed McNamara was “a danger to the community” and has “no concern for other people”.
“She is a danger to the people of Limerick city, and I believe she will not stand trial if granted bail.”
“She is addicted to cannabis and it is my belief that this will lead to her committing further serious offences. Gardaí are concerned that she will intimidate witnesses in this case if she granted bail,” Garda McCormack added.
McNamara pleaded guilty to drugs offences as well as assault causing harm, intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm, endangerment, dangerous driving, and failing to assist a pedestrian at the scene of a road traffic collision.
A number of the victims attended the Circuit Court on Wednesday to provide victim impact statements and to hear the terms of the sentence.
However, prosecution counsel, John O’Sullivan BL, informed the court that the State was not ready to proceed as it was not in possession of “the views of the Director (of Public Prosecutions)” and therefore sought an adjournment.
Judge Tom O’Donnell remanded McNamara in continuing custody and adjourned sentencing to July 11th.
