Sunday 1 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. 0747Careless driving causing death, careless driving causing serious bodily harm · Co. Cork · 2 Nov 2024

Sentencing adjourned in Charleville careless driving causing death case

On 2 November 2024, Agnes Foley, of Farran in Charleville, Co Cork, mounted a kerb on Main Street, Rathgoggin, after pressing the accelerator instead of the brake while attempting to park, striking two people on the footpath. Mary Fehilly, 72, was airlifted to Cork University Hospital where she died later that evening, while John Collins, 66, suffered a fractured pelvis and lacerations. Foley pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and careless driving causing serious bodily harm at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Helen Boyle adjourned sentencing to 29 October 2026, and at that hearing it was further adjourned to 4 November 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted23 Jun
    3 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Foley's car mounted a kerb on Main Street, Rathgoggin, Charleville, after she pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while attempting to park, striking two people on the footpath.
  • Mary Fehilly, 72, was airlifted to Cork University Hospital where she died later that evening.
  • John Collins, 66, was seriously injured with a fractured pelvis and lacerations on his inner thighs.
Where
The crash occurred on Main Street, Rathgoggin, Charleville, Co Cork.
When
The incident occurred on 2 November 2024.
Cause
Foley pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while trying to enter a car park space.
Investigation
Foley co-operated fully with the garda investigation.
Charges
  • Foley pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of Mary Fehilly.
  • Foley pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm to John Collins.
In court
The case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Helen Boyle.
Sentence
Sentencing was adjourned to 29 October 2026 and then further adjourned to 4 November 2026.
Other details
  • Foley had driven for six decades without incident before the crash and has not driven since.
  • Foley's age is reported as 87 in some sources and 85 in others, and she wrote letters of apology to the Fehilly family and to John Collins.
40 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFehilly subsequently died at Cork University Hospital (irishtimes.com)
  • whatJohn Collins, who was also on the footpath, was seriously injured (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMary Fehilly, 72, died as a result of her injuries. (rte.ie)
  • whatJohn Collins and Mary Fehilly were pinned to a wall. (rte.ie)
  • whatMary Fehilly was airlifted to Cork University Hospital, where she died later that evening. (rte.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • whatJohn Collins suffered a fractured pelvis and lacerations on his inner thighs. (rte.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • whatAgnes Foley's car mounted a kerb after she put her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe crash happened on Main Street, Rathgoggin, Charleville (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe car struck people on Main Street in Charleville. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened on Main Street, Rathgoggin, Charleville. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 2 November 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened on 2 November 2024. (rte.ie)
  • causeMrs Foley pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while trying to park. (rte.ie)
  • causeFoley accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationMrs Foley co-operated fully with the garda investigation. (rte.ie)
  • investigationFoley co-operated fully with the garda investigation. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeAgnes Foley pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of Mary Fehilly (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeFoley also pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm to Collins (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMrs Foley pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, causing Mary Fehilly's death. (rte.ie)
  • chargeJohn Collins pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, causing serious bodily harm to him. (rte.ie)
  • chargeFoley previously pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention causing Mary Fehilly's death. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeFoley also pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention causing serious bodily harm to John Collins. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Helen Boyle adjourned sentencing to 29 October (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSentencing was adjourned until 4 November. (rte.ie)
  • courtCork Circuit Criminal Court heard the case. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceSentencing was adjourned until November 4. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherFoley had driven for six decades without incident before the crash (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFoley has not driven since the incident (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFoley wrote letters to the families of the deceased and the injured man (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHundreds of people attended Fehilly's funeral at Holy Cross Church in Charleville on 6 November 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFehilly was a married mother of five who lived at Holy Cross Place in Charleville (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFehilly's son-in-law is Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fáil TD for Clare (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA victim impact statement was read on behalf of the Fehilly family. (rte.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • otherJohn Collins's victim impact statement was also read into the record. (rte.ie)
  • otherMrs Foley has written letters of apology to the Fehilly family and to John Collins. (rte.ie)
  • otherMrs Foley has not driven since the accident. (rte.ie)
  • otherA victim impact statement from John Collins was also read into the record. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherFoley has written letters of apology to the Fehilly family and to John Collins. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherFoley has not driven since the accident. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Oct2026
    Convictedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Pensioner pleads guilty to causing death of Limerick woman (72)

    Article reports Foley's guilty pleas, victim impact statements from the Fehilly family and John Collins, and that sentencing was adjourned to 4 November. Foley's age is given as 85 here, not 87 as in the existing case. The article is datelined Limerick but the incident happened in Charleville, Co Cork.

    convicted, Agnes Foley, 85, female, named, irish (judged from name)Agnes Foleyvictim, Mary Fehilly, 72, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Fehillyvictim, John Collins, 66, male, irish (judged from name)John Collins
  2. 29 Oct2026
    Convictedrte.ie, follow-up
    Court hears of family's 'anguish' after death of mother

    Reports the victim impact statements from the Fehilly family and John Collins, Mrs Foley's apology letters and her defence, and that sentencing was adjourned until 4 November.

    convicted, Agnes Foley, 87, female, named, irish (judged from name)Agnes Foleyvictim, Mary Fehilly, 72, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Fehillyvictim, John Collins, 66, male, irish (judged from name)John Collins
  3. 23 Jun2026
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Woman (87) to be sentenced for careless driving causing death of a pensioner

    Reports the sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where Judge Helen Boyle adjourned sentencing to 29 October. Details the circumstances of the crash (parking manoeuvre, foot on accelerator instead of brake), the second injured victim, and background on the deceased.

    victim, Mary Fehilly, 72, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Fehillyvictim, John Collins, male, irish (judged from name)John Collinsconvicted, Agnes Foley, 87, female, named, irish (judged from name)Agnes Foley