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. 0835Careless driving causing death · Co. Dublin · 18 Feb 2022

Truck driver acquitted of careless driving causing death in Dun Laoghaire

On 18 February 2022, Eileen Dalton, a 78-year-old woman, was killed at Convent Lane, Dun Laoghaire, when a Lynas Foodservice refrigerated truck driven by Justinas Marinskas, a 41-year-old man from Swords, Co Dublin, collided with her as she walked on the footpath to work in Monkstown. The prosecution alleged that Marinskas was careless in making a left turn from George's Street Lower onto Convent Lane and that the rear wheel of the truck drove over her. Marinskas, who tested negative for drugs and alcohol, pleaded not guilty to one count of careless driving causing death at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In June 2026, a jury unanimously acquitted him of the charge.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Jun
    2 reports
  5. Acquitted11 Jun
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A Lynas Foodservice refrigerated truck driven by Justinas Marinskas collided with Eileen Dalton, 78, as she walked on the footpath to work in Monkstown.
Where
The collision occurred at Convent Lane, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, as the truck made a left turn from George's Street Lower onto Convent Lane.
When
The incident happened around 10am on 18 February 2022, and Dalton was pronounced dead at 10.07am.
Cause
The prosecution alleged that Marinskas was careless in the manner of his left turn and that the rear wheel of the truck drove over Dalton.
Other details
A fire drill at the nearby Bloomfields Shopping Centre had increased foot traffic, and an extreme weather warning was in place on the day.
Investigation
Marinskas tested negative for drugs and alcohol at the scene, and the truck was found to be in full working order.
Charges
Marinskas was charged with one count of careless driving causing the death of Eileen Dalton.
In court
The trial was held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with eyewitnesses, CCTV footage, and a forensic collision expert giving evidence.
Sentence
A jury unanimously acquitted Marinskas of the charge in June 2026.
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA delivery truck driver is on trial for allegedly knocking down and killing an elderly woman. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatJustinas Marinskas, 41, is of Castleview Lawns, Swords, Co Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatEileen Dalton was aged 78 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatShe was walking on the footpath on her way to work in Monkstown (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMarinskas was a Lynas Foodservice truck driver making a delivery (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe vehicle was a rigid truck rather than an articulated lorry (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMs Dalton was walking in the same direction the truck was travelling (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA fire drill was taking place at the nearby Bloomfields Shopping Centre, increasing foot traffic (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA collision occurred between the truck and Ms Dalton (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatEileen Dalton was 78 years old. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was walking to work in Monkstown when she was knocked down by a truck. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMarinskas was a Lynas Foodservice truck driver making a delivery in Dún Laoghaire. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA fire drill was taking place at Bloomfields Shopping Centre and a large crowd had gathered outside. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAn extreme weather warning was in place on the day of the collision. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSome witnesses described the woman as appearing to trip, fall forward, or be blown over. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe collision happened at Convent Lane, Dun Laoghaire. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereDalton was walking to work in Monkstown when she was hit. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at Convent Lane, Dun Laoghaire (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe truck was making a left turn from George's Street Lower onto Convent Lane (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe collision occurred at Convent Lane, Dún Laoghaire. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe collision happened on 18 February 2022. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 18 February 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred around 10am (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenShe was pronounced dead at 10.07am (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 18 February 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeDalton was knocked down by a truck being driven by Marinskas, who was making a delivery in Dun Laoghaire. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe prosecution says the truck driver was careless in the way he made a left turn. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeShe died after the rear wheel of the refrigerated truck drove over her (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationMarinskas tested negative for drugs and alcohol at the scene, and mobile phone use was not an issue. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe jury will hear evidence from eye witnesses, gardaí, paramedics and the doctor who responded (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage will be played but the collision itself was not captured on camera (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA forensic collision expert will give evidence of their conclusions (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationMarinskas gave an account to gardaí within a very short space of time (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMarinskas has pleaded not guilty to one count of careless driving causing death. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe faces one count of careless driving causing the death of Eileen Dalton (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMarinskas was charged with one count of careless driving causing the death of Eileen Dalton. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSeveral eyewitnesses gave evidence to the court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtCCTV footage from just before and after the incident was played in court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury unanimously found Marinskas not guilty of careless driving causing death. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan put the jury in charge. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA fire drill was taking place at the nearby Bloomfields Shopping Centre when the collision happened. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDalton was pronounced dead at 10.07am. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMarinskas told gardaí he made the left turn slowly and safely, with many people around the truck. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe truck was found to be in full working order, and Marinskas was fully licensed and insured. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Jun2026
    Acquittedirishtimes.com, first report
    Truck driver acquitted of careless driving charge after death of woman (78)

    Unanimous jury acquittal after trial; defence highlighted witness descriptions of the victim tripping or falling and the extreme weather warning in effect on the day.

    victim, Eileen Dalton, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Eileen Daltonsuspect, Justinas Marinskas, 41, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Justinas Marinskas
  2. 8 Jun2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Truck driver on trial for careless driving causing death of elderly woman

    Details of the trial opening on 8 June 2026, including the prosecution's case that the truck's rear wheel drove over Ms Dalton during a left turn, that a fire drill at Bloomfields Shopping Centre had increased foot traffic, that the defendant tested negative for drugs and alcohol, and that the trial is set down for about three days before Judge Martin Nolan.

    victim, Eileen Dalton, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Eileen Daltonsuspect, Justinas Marinskas, 41, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Justinas Marinskas
  3. 1 Jun2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Trial hears eyewitness accounts of fatal delivery truck collision that killed pedestrian

    Trial report: eyewitness evidence and CCTV were heard, and the defence cross-examined witnesses. The article gives the accused's age and origin, and the investigating garda's evidence on drugs, alcohol and the truck's condition. No existing case matches this incident.

    accused, Justinas Marinskas, 41, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Justinas Marinskasvictim, Eileen Dalton, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Eileen Dalton