A female resident of Oakfield View, Glanmire, Co Cork, who is 46 years old, has admitted responsibility for a fatal road accident due to hazardous driving. Jennifer Thomas was prosecuted in Cork District Court as the driver whose irresponsible actions led to the death of a teacher’s aide for children with special needs and mother of two, Sheila Dunne, aged 50, also from Glanmire.
The incident happened on the 11th of February in Sarsfield Court, Glanmire. The case was moved to the Cork Circuit Criminal Court to be officially initiated on its inaugural day. Thomas also faces a number of other accusations at the district court level, including a drink-driving charge and three further counts of perilous driving, which are deemed to be summary offenses.
The accusations further include assumptions that Thomas was too impaired by some intoxicating substance to safely operate her vehicle in Sarsfield Court. Other charges are for reckless driving on Hazelwood Road, Sarsfield Court, and Sallybrook, as well as for not having and failing to present a driving license. All these charges pertain to the same date, February 11th.
On Tuesday, during the proceeding at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Thomas confirmed her guilt regarding the fatal driving charge. No explanation regarding the origin of the charge was provided in the court.
Defence attorney, Tom Creed, SC, requested that free legal aid be extended for arranging a medical and psychologists’ assessment. He also called for the preparation of a probation and welfare report concerning his client.
The lawyer representing the prosecution, Katherine McGillicuddy, BL, stated that the prosecution is eager to move forward and victim impact statements from the deceased’s family have been assembled.
Judge Helen Boyle agreed to extend legal aid to facilitate the writing of the required reports. The case has been postponed until the 19th of November to be discussed at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.