On August 16th, I received a call from a Garda regarding a distressing situation: the driver responsible for my life-changing injuries is seeking a reduction in their four-year driving ban. I felt compelled to write this post to share my perspective and voice my strong opposition to this request on the following grounds.

A Lenient Sentence

During the trial, the driver was convicted and handed a six-month suspended prison sentence. The court justified this leniency by arguing that removing a public servant from the community would have adverse effects. However, I believed this was an overly generous decision. In similar cases, individuals would have faced prison time. Furthermore, the €500 fine imposed felt utterly insignificant and failed to reflect the grievous nature of the injuries inflicted upon me.

The Disparity in Impact 

What struck me most was the driver’s statement to the court, which focused on the potential impact of the driving ban on their plans to build a new home in the countryside. This was a stark contrast to my family’s reality. At that time, we were struggling under debt management schemes, desperately trying to maintain a roof over our heads. We are working with the Insolvency Service of Ireland. There are no houses in the Irish countryside that we need to worry about commuting from, which highlights the severity of our financial situation. The judge on the day said to us, regarding my injuries, “there are worse things than death”.

The Ongoing Consequences  

At the time of the criminal trial and convictions, there were limited medical reports available, as they all focused on the events of that day. Mechanical and matter of fact. Little on the prognosis. I died. I should not be here, walking, talking, or otherwise. Prognosis was unclear in fringe cases like mine. What they do know is that I am missing parts of my spine, have kyphosis of the spine, and degenerative spinal disease. I am missing half of one of my lungs, my rib cage knitted back together with my muscle. My first two weeks were spent in a coma. As you can imagine, PTSD treatments have also factored heavily in my recovery. And pain. Chronic, never going away, pain. And they are just the headline issues. My body was crushed between two cars. That is how I died that day in August 2019. If anything, I believe the original sentence was excessively lenient. Those in public service, especially professionals entrusted with the safety of others, should be held to a higher standard.

A Call for Justice

If it were within my power, I would advocate for a harsher sentence—one that truly reflects the anguish my family has endured. The events of that day irrevocably altered our lives and ended my career. I have been forced to find a new path and would rather never hear the driver’s name again, especially in the context of seeking a reduction in their sentence.

Moving Forward

I am committed to standing firm in my opposition. If the authorities require any additional information or statements, or if my presence is needed in court, I am more than willing to assist. It is crucial that we seek justice not only for ourselves, but for anyone who has suffered due to the reckless actions of others. By making these stands, it may help deter those who think they can just shake off the inconvenience of their convictions, instead of truly having to process the feelings of shame for their guilt.

“To close your eyes will not ease another’s pain.”

— Chinese Proverb

I am still awaiting an apology.

That has haunted me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Personally, I want to put distance between what happened and where I am trying to get to. I live with enough reminders. Having to be dragged back to that hell triggers me, and it is more of a fight than flight response.

Be excellent to each other.