Case No. 0835Careless driving causing death · Co. Dublin · 18 Feb 2022
Truck driver Justinas Marinskas acquitted of careless driving causing death of Eileen Dalton in Dún Laoghaire
On 18 February 2022, Eileen Dalton, 78, was killed when the rear wheel of a refrigerated truck drove over her as she walked on the footpath to work at Convent Lane, Dún Laoghaire. Justinas Marinskas, 41, a Lynas Foodservice truck driver from Swords, Co Dublin, was charged with one count of careless driving causing her death. He pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the trial opened on 8 June 2026 before Judge Martin Nolan. On 11 June 2026, a jury unanimously acquitted Marinskas of the charge.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court8 Jun
- Acquitted11 Jun
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Eileen Dalton, 78, was walking on the footpath to work in Monkstown when she was struck by a truck at Convent Lane, Dún Laoghaire.
- Justinas Marinskas, 41, of Castleview Lawns, Swords, Co Dublin, was a Lynas Foodservice truck driver making a delivery when the collision occurred.
- Where
- The collision occurred at Convent Lane, Dún Laoghaire, as the truck made a left turn from George's Street Lower onto Convent Lane.
- When
- The incident occurred on 18 February 2022 at around 10am, and Ms Dalton was pronounced dead at 10.07am.
- Cause
- The rear wheel of the refrigerated truck drove over Ms 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.
- Some witnesses described the woman as appearing to trip, fall forward, or be blown over.
- Charges
- Marinskas was charged with one count of careless driving causing the death of Eileen Dalton.
- In court
- He pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the trial opened on 8 June 2026 before Judge Martin Nolan.
- On 11 June 2026, a jury unanimously acquitted Marinskas of the charge.
- Investigation
- The trial heard evidence from eyewitnesses, gardaí, paramedics, and a forensic collision expert, and CCTV footage was played, though the collision itself was not captured on camera.
32 statements extracted from the articles
- 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 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 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)
- causeShe died after the rear wheel of the refrigerated truck drove over her (irishmirror.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)
- 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)
- 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)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Jun2026Truck 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 - 8 Jun2026Truck 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