A 20-year-old woman is to be sentenced at Limerick Circuit Court after pleading guilty to causing injury and endangering lives, by driving a high-powered car into a crowd of people in Limerick City and fleeing the scene.
The “hit and run” incident, which occurred in the Cornmarket area, a popular nightclub quarter of the city, on October 10, 2021, left three people in hospital with serious injuries.
At Limerick District Court yesterday, Chloe McNamara of Sarsfield Gardens, Moyross pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm, endangerment, dangerous driving and failing to assist a pedestrian.
Video footage of the alleged “hit and run” was shown at Limerick District Court when Ms McNamara was charged.
The footage showed a car, which Gardaí allege was being driven by Ms McNamara, driving directly into a group of pedestrians from behind, launching them into the air before the vehicle is seen leaving the scene.
Garda Patricia McCormack, Henry Street Garda Station, said Gardaí responded to “a-hit-and-run road traffic collision” at Cornmarket Row at 1.10am on the morning in question.
Paramedics were already at the scene treating three injured pedestrians, including a male and two females, who were lying on the road and in a serious condition.
Gda McCormack said the man sustained serious head and spinal injuries while the two women suffered serious neck and back injuries.
A fourth pedestrian, a female aged 19, presented herself at University Hospital Limerick to receive treatment for minor injuries.
Gardaí obtained CCTV footage showing a red Audi A4 entering Cornmarket Row, where a large crowd of people were out socialising at 1.03am.
“The red Audi can be seen hitting and knocking down three pedestrians,” Gda McCormack told the court.
Gardaí located a red Audi at Knockalisheen, near Moyross, about 15 minutes after the incident.
“There was blood visible on the front windscreen and bonnet of the car and it was seized for a technical examination,” added Gda McCormack.
Objecting to bail, Gda McCormack alleged Ms McNamara had “no concern for other people” during the hit and run.
“Dangerous driving resulted in a hit and run in Cornmarket Row, and this is captured on excellent-quality CCTV,” she said.
Ms McNamara did not apply for bail following her arrest last October. She was remanded in custody for sentencing at Limerick Circuit Court.
