Mary Lowry avoids prison for careless driving causing death of charity cyclist in Tipperary

Tipperary woman Mary Lowry has received a suspended prison sentence following a fatal road traffic accident that occurred two and a half years ago.

The defendant of Green Road, Dundrum, Co Tipperary was also disqualified from driving for one year, after she pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing the death of motorcyclist Patrick Connolly arising from the accident on the N24 road at Springhouse, Bansha on December 28, 2021.

Mr Connolly, who was taking part in a charity cycle when he was struck, passed away in hospital on January 2, 2022. 

“An error of judgement and momentary lapse of concentration” on Ms Lowry’s part had led to “absolutely devastating consequences for the Connolly family” barrister Colman Coady, SC, acting for Ms Lowry, stated when he joined the sentencing hearing by audiolink.

He told Clonmel Circuit Court that Mary Lowry had submitted a letter of apology to the court that was remorseful, sincere and contrite. She was struggling to grapple with the loss the Connolly family had suffered.

Mr Coady said that Ms Lowry had been the key witness in a high profile murder trial. Giving evidence in that trial had been difficult and traumatic. If she had not been involved in that case the glare of the media would not have been on her in this particular case.

The court heard victim impact evidence from Patrick Connolly’s wife Geraldine Connolly and from his daughter Rebecca Connolly.

Geraldine Connolly stated that the worst thing was that Patrick wasn’t breathing beside her at night. She could no longer cook his favourite meals or buy him presents at Christmas and for his birthday.

“I miss him every day,” she said. 

“He was the love of my life, my happiness, my security”. At times she no longer felt safe in her home without him by her side. 

He was a carpenter by trade, a master craftsman, who took great pride in his work and who built their home with help from his family and friends.

The couple were a team working away together, she said. They had paid off their mortgage in July of that year and planned to do more travelling. She was never concerned about him when he was on his motorbike because Patrick was such a careful driver.  

Rebecca Connolly told the court that her father’s death was “world-shattering”.

She had elected to keep busy since his death, because if she stopped she would start to realise what had happened and “everything would crumble”.

She didn’t think it was possible to hurt any more than she did when her father passed away in hospital. 

Rebecca Connolly said they were so lucky to have had their father. He had given himself wholeheartedly to them and used to say that as long as they were happy, he was happy.

Judge Catherine Staines noted that Mary Lowry had waited for traffic to pass and that she thought that the road was clear when she exited the car park at Bansha Woods and turned right in the direction of Bansha.

The accident occurred at 12.45pm on December 28, 2021. 

“Devastatingly, the road was not clear and she had caused the collision,” the Judge stated.

She said that Mr Connolly was a great father and a great provider, and clearly he was the love of his wife’s life.

The Judge noted that there were no aggravating factors such as alcohol, speed or dangerous driving. Mary Lowry had cooperated with the gardaí and pleaded guilty. She had expressed genuine remorse to the Connolly family, had no previous convictions and had cooperated fully with the probation service. 

The Judge also said that Ms Lowry had suffered tragedy in her own life, when her husband had died some years ago.