Thursday 12 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 39080Careless driving · Co. Offaly · 21 Sep 2025

Garda convicted of careless driving after hitting pedestrian in Birr

Garda William Stephens, 40, was convicted at Tullamore District Court of careless driving after his car struck pedestrian Lorraine Kearns at a crossing near the Tesco roundabout in Birr, Co Offaly, on 21 September 2025. He was fined €250 and given three months to pay.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced12 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLorraine Kearns was struck by a car going in the Riverstown direction and was propelled into the air and onto the bonnet and road. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatAn x-ray revealed Kearns had a leg fracture on a shin bone. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe collision happened at the pedestrian crossing near the Tesco roundabout in Birr. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenSergeant Joanne Martin received a report of the collision at 10.50am. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe driver said a low lying sun affected his vision and temporarily blinded him. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeJudge Cody convicted the driver, finding he was momentarily distracted by operational matters and made eye contact with a colleague. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeWilliam Stephens denied a charge of careless driving at Drumbane, Birr on September 21 last year. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Cody said he was satisfied there was a prima facie case for a careless driving prosecution and would not dismiss the matter. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Cody imposed a fine of €250 with no disqualification and gave the man three months to pay. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused was driving an unmarked car on his own on surveillance duty when he collided with the pedestrian. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused said there was no warning sign at the roundabout about the pedestrian crossing and no flashing lights or sign at the crossing. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused rang the gardai himself after the accident and contacted the woman the next day. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was with a surveillance unit that day and was monitoring a vehicle in Birr. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThere was no evidence of speed, no skid marks, and the accused was fully co-operative. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence brought €1,500 to court as a gesture towards Ms Kearns' expenses. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMs Kearns said her walking had been affected and she had back pain which an MRI showed was the result of a fracture. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Nov2026
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Garda on Offaly surveillance duty hit woman at pedestrian crossing

    Conviction and €250 fine after a contested hearing; the garda was on surveillance duty and blamed low sun and momentary distraction.

    convicted, William Stephens, 40, male, namedWilliam Stephensvictim, Lorraine Kearns, femaleLorraine Kearnsother, Joanne MartinJoanne Martin

This page is put together automatically from the reports listed above. A charge is not a conviction. If something here is wrong or out of date, report it.