Ireland Man given suspended sentence after careless driving causes life-changing injuries to pedestrian in Drimnagh, Dublin
On 9 October 2024 a driver who went through a red light struck Francine Winters, a woman who had just got off a Luas, on Davin Road in Drimnagh, Dublin, causing multiple fractures to her spine, ribs, pelvis and skull and an internal degloving injury to one leg. The driver, John Wrafter, 34, a man, told gardaí he did not notice the red light. He pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm. The latest development, reported on 1 May 2026, is his sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a 12-month suspended sentence and a four-year driving disqualification, after a headline sentence of 16 months was set.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Francine Winters suffered multiple fractures to her spine and ribs, a broken pelvis, an internal degloving of one leg, and multiple fractures to her skull and eye socket.
- Where
- The collision happened on Davin Road in Drimnagh, Dublin.
- When
- The collision happened on 9 October 2024.
- The sentencing was reported by TheJournal.ie on 1 May 2026.
- Cause
- The driver, John Wrafter, went through a red light and knocked the victim down.
- Other details
- The victim was crossing the road after getting off a Luas.
- The victim woke from a coma five days after the collision with no memory of what had happened.
- The driver told gardaí he did not notice the red light.
- The driver has no previous convictions.
- Investigation
- Investigators found the driver was not speeding, was not using a mobile phone, and was not under the influence.
- Charges
- John Wrafter pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm.
- In court
- The sentence hearing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- The judge set a headline sentence of 16 months.
- The driver was given a 12-month suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for four years.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim suffered multiple fractures to her spine and ribs, a broken pelvis, an internal degloving of one leg and multiple fractures to her skull and eye socket. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe collision happened on Davin Road, Drimnagh. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe collision happened on 9 October 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe driver went through a red light and knocked the victim down. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationInvestigators found the driver was not speeding, was not using a mobile phone, and was not under the influence. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe driver pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe sentence hearing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 16 months. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe driver was given a 12-month suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for four years. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe victim was crossing the road after getting off a Luas. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe driver told gardaí he did not notice the red light. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe driver has no previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 May2026Man gets suspended sentence after knocking down woman and leaving her with life-changing injuries
Reports the sentencing of John Wrafter at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including the victim impact statement, the medical findings and the judge's remarks.
convicted, John Wrafter, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Wraftervictim, Francine Winters, female, irish (judged from name)Francine Winters