Driver facing prison time for running over cyclist after making illegal u-turn

By Sonya McLean

A cyclist who was driven over twice by a woman taking an illegal right-hand turn has said he is “still tortured by the sound of my breaking bones”.

Izabella Aleksandrowicz (50) of Cedar Place, Ridgewood, Swords, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to careless driving causing serious bodily harm in Dublin City Centre on December 11, 2023.

Andrew Brett, who was also an experienced marathon runner, said he was “convinced he was going to die” when he was crushed by the front wheels of the SUV Aleksandrowicz was driving that day.

“I was crushed a second time”, Mr Brett said in his victim impact statement referring to the fact that he was also crushed by the rear wheels of the vehicle.

Mr Brett was in court and his victim impact statement was read into the record by prosecuting counsel Stephen Montgomery BL.

He suffered damage to his liver, internal bleeding and a fractured pelvis. He spent that Christmas in hospital and does not believe he will be able to return to competitive running.

“I was a strong marathon runner. Running was a core part of my identity and lifestyle. I am a shadow of the athlete I once was,” Mr Brett said.

He said the medical teams felt that his level of fitness before the accident was an assistance to him in his recovery and they believed it was “a miracle that I was not killed or permanently paralysed”.

Referring to missing Christmas with his young children that year, he said that Christmas with young children is limited and there is only so many years a person will experience the magic of Christmas with them. He said when he eventually got out of hospital the tree and decorations were down.

Mr Brett said his time with his children had to be supervised on his return home for fear of them causing him further injury. His wife had to take extended leave and he was out of work for six months. When he did return to work he had to work from home for a further four months as he was not physically able to go into the office.

Garda Ian Galvin told Mr Montgomery that Mr Brett was cycling from La Touche Bridge, also known as Portobello Bridge, onto Lennox Street at 9am that morning when he spotted a white SUV merging from his left hand side to perform an illegal right hand turn.

Mr Brett later told gardaí that Aleksandrowicz did not look up and was only looking to her left. He said as he approached from her right he knew he was going to be struck. He said “I tried to move but it was futile”.

Mr Brett fell in under the car and was crushed by the front wheel. He said he was screaming as loud as he could before he was also crushed by the rear wheels of the SUV. He said he could hear bystanders screaming.

Gda Galvin said Mr Brett was wearing a high-vis jacket and helmet. It was a dry day, the road conditions were good and there were no obstructions.

Aleksandrowicz remained at the scene. She had a full Polish driving license and had not taken alcohol or drugs. There was minor damage to the bike and no damage to the car.

Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to May 6 next for sentence. She remanded Aleksandrowicz on continuing bail and ordered a report from The Probation Service.

She said it was a very serious matter notwithstanding the fact that it was a case of careless driving.

Mr Montgomery read Mr Brett’s victim impact statement into the record.

He stated that the accident had a “monumental impact” on him and his family, describing it as “life changing” and the “worse day of my life”.

Mr Brett said he was struck and driven over twice and there was no possibility he could have avoided the collision.

“I was immediately aware that I had suffered catastrophic injuries,” he said describing “overwhelming pain”.

“I am still tortured by the sound of the breaking bones,” Mr Brett said before he described the SUV as crushing his body.  He said he doesn’t think he will ever be able to forget that day.

“My wife became a single parent overnight,” he said adding that she was unable to work for two months.

Mr Brett said he has ongoing physical and emotional issues and may need hip replacements when he is older. He suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Mr Brett thanked Gda Galvin for his “courtesy, respect and professionalism” in dealing with the case and the medical staff at St James’s Hospital.

Gda Galvin said that Aleksandrowicz met with gardaí in February 2024 and made a cautioned statement.

He agreed with Patrick Jackson BL, defending, that a lot of drivers regularly took that illegal right-hand turn despite their being numerous signs advising that it was not permitted.

He further accepted that she was in shock after the accident and acknowledged that it has had “an emotional toil” on her while Mr Jackson confirmed that this is “very much secondary” to that experienced by Mr Brett.

Mr Jackson told the court that his client is a grandmother and has an adult daughter. She had worked as a chef but is now working as a cleaner.

Counsel said Aleksandrowicz wished to express her most sincere apology. She has been suffering from anxiety as a result of the accident and the fear she had for the welfare of Mr Brett.