Woman left pensioner with ‘life changing injuries' after breaking red light
SPARED JAIL |
The victim in the case suffered a bleed to the brain, multiple fractures to her legs, pelvis and clavicle and a dislocated shoulder
Frienna Rockett
Judge Pauline Codd made the comments while imposing a 17-month suspended prison sentence on a driver who broke a red light and knocked down an elderly lady as she crossed the road, leaving her with serious and life-changing injuries.
Frienna Rockett (29) was not paying attention to the road because she was trying to find her sister's home when she broke the red light at a pedestrian crossing on St Peter's Road, Crumlin and ploughed into the 81-year-old woman, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Rockett, of Ballybrack, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm on December 16, 2022. She has no previous convictions.
The victim in the case suffered a bleed to the brain, multiple fractures to her legs, pelvis and clavicle and a dislocated shoulder. She spent a period of time in intensive care and in rehabilitation after the accident.
Frienna Rockett
In a victim impact statement read out by prosecuting counsel at an earlier sentencing hearing, the woman said the accident had a 'devastating' impact on her mental health. She said she used to be fit and active but can now no longer go to line dancing, meet her Age Action friends or go for coffee because she struggles to leave her home.
'My life is very sad and lonely now,' she said. She is 'terrified' to walk near the road or be around traffic and is also in constant pain, which makes getting around difficult, the court heard. She said she can no longer drive or take public transport and relies on a walking aid and a mobility scooter.
Outlining the extent of her injuries, she said she is in pain 'all day, every day'. 'I'm pretty much helpless,' she said, adding that her son is now her full-time carer. 'I feel vulnerable all the time and live with a lot of fear.'
The court heard Rockett was driving her Volkswagan Golf car around 12.30pm on the day in question when she knocked down the woman who was out walking her dog. She stayed at the scene and called emergency services, the court heard.
Rockett was not speeding, she tested negative for any intoxicating substances and her paperwork and insurance was all in order, the court heard.
When questioned by gardaí at the scene, Rockett said she was 'driving at a snail's pace', that the woman 'came out of nowhere' and the traffic light at the pedestrian crossing was green.
Frienna Rockett
News in 90 June 4th
However, CCTV footage of the incident along with footage taken from a dashcam of a van travelling directly behind Rockett showed her car breaking the red light. The CCTV footage was played in court during an earlier sentencing and the victim covered her eyes throughout to avoid watching it.
Rockett later said she took her eyes off the road as she was looking for her sister's house.
The maximum sentence for careless driving causing serious bodily harm is two years' imprisonment and / or a fine of up to €10,000.
Imposing sentence today, Judge Codd said Rockett's 'carelessness was more than a momentary lapse' and that she had allowed the search for her sister's house 'to become a distraction'.
Judge Codd said it is incumbent on drivers to 'take extra care in a residential area where there is often the danger of people crossing legitimately or illegitimately'.
The judge noted that a car 'can become a maiming or killing machine if not driven with due regard for all road users, especially pedestrians'.
Judge Codd said the victim was a 'courageous and brave person' who had lived an active life before this accident. She said the woman had faced 'adversity with dignity', and that this incident 'reflects how one act of carelessness by a motorist can profoundly affect the life of another'.
She set a headline sentence of 21 months, which she reduced to 17 months, taking the mitigation into consideration.
The judge suspended the sentence on strict conditions for one year. She also imposed a two-year driving disqualification on Rockett.
At a previous sentence hearing, Craig Phillips BL, defending, said Rockett was very remorseful for her actions, which were entirely unintentional. The court heard she worked as a social worker for a charity but that the accident took its toll on her and she is now working in a bar. A letter of apology for the victim was handed into court.
Judge Codd noted that drivers must always be careful when driving, particularly in residential areas.
'The consequences are enormous for (the victim),' she said. 'Her life as she knew it has been undone by this accident.
'One never intends to go out and do it, but when one is driving a car there is a massive responsibility. It can have fatal consequences. I consider going through a red light to be a very serious matter, especially at a pedestrian crossing.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Convicted rapist who harassed three Sunday World journalists jailed
Mark McAnaw, previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to the harassment of Ms Tallant, Ms Brunker and Ms Reynolds on various dates in August 2023. Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds speaking to media following the sentence hearing of Mark McAnaw in the circuit court in Dublin. Photo: Collins Courts A convicted rapist who threatened and harassed three female Sunday World journalists has been jailed for 11 years. Mark McAnaw (53) refused to enter a bond before a sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court which would have suspended the final 12 months of the 11-year sentence imposed for the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds. After Judge Pauline Codd had outlined the conditions attached to the suspended portion of the sentence today, McAnaw's counsel Rebecca Smith BL said her client did not wish to enter the bond as he found the conditions 'onerous'. As a result, the judge imposed the full 11-year sentence. Judge Codd also ordered that McAnaw should have no contact either directly or indirectly with the women, should not approach them, go within 10 miles of their homes and workplaces or communicate with them for life. McAnaw, previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to the harassment of Ms Tallant, Ms Brunker and Ms Reynolds on various dates in August 2023. Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds speaking to media following the sentence hearing of Mark McAnaw in the circuit court in Dublin. Photo: Collins Courts The court heard McAnaw repeatedly sent the three women emails and messages of a violent and sexually threatening nature, which escalated to him threatening to put a 'bullet' in Ms Reynolds. He also referred to himself as an 'IRA Top Boy'. He also turned up at the offices of the Sunday World on Talbot Street and, when refused entry, he went to a cafe across the road. When gardai approached him there, McAnaw was in the process of writing an email to Ms Tallant. McAnaw is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). McAnaw does not accept his diagnosis of schizophrenia and has declined to take medication, the court was told. His previous convictions include the rape of a foreign student in Donegal in October 2010, for which he was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2012. McAnaw also has a 1989 conviction for kidnapping and convictions for assaults causing actual bodily harm from a court in Northern Ireland in 2011. He also has a conviction for aggravated assault after attacking a woman in her home in April 2018, for which he received a sentence of eight years and four months in June 2023. This sentence was backdated to 2018 when he went into custody, with the final 16 months suspended for 16 years on strict conditions. McAnaw was released from custody on this sentence in July 2023 – one month before the harassment of the three journalists took place. Mark McAnaw News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025 Ms Smith said her client instructs that he found it difficult to abide by the conditions attached to the suspended portion of the sentence imposed in 2023. A handwritten letter from McAnaw was also handed to the court, which Judge Codd described as 'concerning'. Judge Codd noted that social media and online communication makes it easier to target journalists and others in public facing roles. The judge noted women in the public eye are often targeted online and subjected to 'base and lewd threats and comments', which accelerated with the advent of social media. Judge Codd said it is important that 'in a democracy, free speech and freedom of press must be rightly defended' and an aggravating feature of the case was the targeting of female journalists with 'threats of a highly graphic nature'. The judge said general deterrence was necessary and that the 'message goes out' that there are criminal laws which can and will be enforced. She said it was aggravating that McAnaw harassed the women in the context of their work, which potentially impacted their constitutional rights to earn a living and bodily integrity. Judge Codd said the court also had to consider the issue of protection of the public, given McAnaw's history of violent offending, the evidence of his failure to follow medical advice and his consumption of illicit substances, including cannabis. The judge said the need to protect the public 'can't be an end in itself', adding that preventative detention is not permitted by law in Ireland. But Judge Codd said the protection of society was a factor alongside other sentencing principles that the court could have regard to when constructing a proportionate sentence. She added that the fact that 'an offender is a danger to public, which is borne out by evidence, can justify a sentence towards the higher end of the scale'. The judge noted McAnaw's mental health difficulties and that he declines to take anti-psychotic medication 'reserved for most serious cases of schizophrenia'. The judge said McAnaw also has a history of substance misuse and inconsistent past engagement with community mental health services. The judge said McAnaw is assessed at high risk of violent and sexual re-offending. She said the court would give no discount on the headline sentence for his mental health issues, as he had contributed to them by declining to follow medical advice and by taking illicit substances. Judge Codd said the escalating nature of the messages sent was aggravating and, in relation to Ms Reynolds, these included a threat to kill. The judge said while the offences occurred over a short period of time, this had less weight due to McAnaw's status as a violent offender, which would have exacerbated the concern felt by the injured parties. Judge Codd noted the mitigation including McAnaw's guilty pleas and his background. She outlined a global sentence of 11 years, with the final 12 months to be suspended on strict conditions for five years. These included that McAnaw remain under probation supervision for five years, comply with his medical regime, refrain from the use of illicit substances and make available any internet-enabled devices when requested by gardai. The judge backdated the sentence to August 2023, when McAnaw went into custody. Ms Brunker and Ms Reynolds were both present in court when the sentence was imposed. Probation and forensic psychological reports were handed to the court. Ms Smith told the court her client does not accept the diagnosis of a mental illness and has remained drug-free since entering the CMH in October 2023. Judge Codd commended the three women for their resilience and courage throughout the process and wished them well for the future. She directed McAnaw to appear at a sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court later this month in relation to the breach of conditions imposed as part of a suspended sentence.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Trial for couple accused of child neglect after boy (6) found asleep on floor by gardaí
Gardaí found the defendants intoxicated and there was evidence of drug use, it is alleged A couple accused of child neglect after a six-year-old boy was found sleeping on a floor in his school uniform have been sent forward for trial. The boy's younger sibling was sitting in a buggy in front of a TV, wearing a soiled nappy, and a third child was still awake and appeared 'dishevelled' when gardaí conducted a welfare check in the early hours of the morning. Gardaí found the defendants intoxicated and there was evidence of drug use, it is alleged. The couple, who are in their 30s and cannot be named to protect the children, are facing charges of child neglect. They were served with the book of evidence when they appeared before Blanchardstown District Court. The DPP had directed summary trial of the allegations in the district court but Judge David McHugh, after hearing a summary of the evidence, refused jurisdiction. Photo: Stock image News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025 A State solicitor said the book of evidence had been served on the accused, who go forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The couple was remanded on continuing bail to appear before the circuit court in July. Defence solicitors Margaret McEvilly and Aengus McCarthy and two junior counsel were assigned on free legal aid.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Woman left pensioner with ‘life changing injuries' after breaking red light
SPARED JAIL | The victim in the case suffered a bleed to the brain, multiple fractures to her legs, pelvis and clavicle and a dislocated shoulder Frienna Rockett Judge Pauline Codd made the comments while imposing a 17-month suspended prison sentence on a driver who broke a red light and knocked down an elderly lady as she crossed the road, leaving her with serious and life-changing injuries. Frienna Rockett (29) was not paying attention to the road because she was trying to find her sister's home when she broke the red light at a pedestrian crossing on St Peter's Road, Crumlin and ploughed into the 81-year-old woman, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Rockett, of Ballybrack, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm on December 16, 2022. She has no previous convictions. The victim in the case suffered a bleed to the brain, multiple fractures to her legs, pelvis and clavicle and a dislocated shoulder. She spent a period of time in intensive care and in rehabilitation after the accident. Frienna Rockett In a victim impact statement read out by prosecuting counsel at an earlier sentencing hearing, the woman said the accident had a 'devastating' impact on her mental health. She said she used to be fit and active but can now no longer go to line dancing, meet her Age Action friends or go for coffee because she struggles to leave her home. 'My life is very sad and lonely now,' she said. She is 'terrified' to walk near the road or be around traffic and is also in constant pain, which makes getting around difficult, the court heard. She said she can no longer drive or take public transport and relies on a walking aid and a mobility scooter. Outlining the extent of her injuries, she said she is in pain 'all day, every day'. 'I'm pretty much helpless,' she said, adding that her son is now her full-time carer. 'I feel vulnerable all the time and live with a lot of fear.' The court heard Rockett was driving her Volkswagan Golf car around 12.30pm on the day in question when she knocked down the woman who was out walking her dog. She stayed at the scene and called emergency services, the court heard. Rockett was not speeding, she tested negative for any intoxicating substances and her paperwork and insurance was all in order, the court heard. When questioned by gardaí at the scene, Rockett said she was 'driving at a snail's pace', that the woman 'came out of nowhere' and the traffic light at the pedestrian crossing was green. Frienna Rockett News in 90 June 4th However, CCTV footage of the incident along with footage taken from a dashcam of a van travelling directly behind Rockett showed her car breaking the red light. The CCTV footage was played in court during an earlier sentencing and the victim covered her eyes throughout to avoid watching it. Rockett later said she took her eyes off the road as she was looking for her sister's house. The maximum sentence for careless driving causing serious bodily harm is two years' imprisonment and / or a fine of up to €10,000. Imposing sentence today, Judge Codd said Rockett's 'carelessness was more than a momentary lapse' and that she had allowed the search for her sister's house 'to become a distraction'. Judge Codd said it is incumbent on drivers to 'take extra care in a residential area where there is often the danger of people crossing legitimately or illegitimately'. The judge noted that a car 'can become a maiming or killing machine if not driven with due regard for all road users, especially pedestrians'. Judge Codd said the victim was a 'courageous and brave person' who had lived an active life before this accident. She said the woman had faced 'adversity with dignity', and that this incident 'reflects how one act of carelessness by a motorist can profoundly affect the life of another'. She set a headline sentence of 21 months, which she reduced to 17 months, taking the mitigation into consideration. The judge suspended the sentence on strict conditions for one year. She also imposed a two-year driving disqualification on Rockett. At a previous sentence hearing, Craig Phillips BL, defending, said Rockett was very remorseful for her actions, which were entirely unintentional. The court heard she worked as a social worker for a charity but that the accident took its toll on her and she is now working in a bar. A letter of apology for the victim was handed into court. Judge Codd noted that drivers must always be careful when driving, particularly in residential areas. 'The consequences are enormous for (the victim),' she said. 'Her life as she knew it has been undone by this accident. 'One never intends to go out and do it, but when one is driving a car there is a massive responsibility. It can have fatal consequences. I consider going through a red light to be a very serious matter, especially at a pedestrian crossing.'
