Woman who drove over cyclist twice having taken an illegal right-hand turn given 12-month suspended sentence

By Sonya McLean

A woman who drove over a cyclist twice having taken an illegal right-hand turn has been given a 12-month suspended sentence.

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

Mr Brett stated in his victim impact statement that he is “still tortured by the sound of my breaking bones”.

Mr 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 had fractured ribs 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 had previously adjourned the case having heard evidence last February.

She ordered a report from the Probation Service for yesterday’s sentence hearing.

She said Mr Brett was “most unfortunate” that he had done nothing wrong and Aleksandrowicz was not entitled to do what she did.

Judge Crowe accepted that the probation report concluded that Aleksandrowicz had a low risk of re-offending, given her lack of previous convictions and pro-social attitude.

The report also said that Aleksandrowicz had demonstrated remorse and had an understanding of the direct and indirect impact her actions had on Mr Brett, his wife and his young children.

Judge Crowe said the impact on Mr Brett has been “utterly devastating” and that he is still in the act of recovery.

She acknowledged that Aleksandrowicz pleaded guilty, is sincerely apologetic, was not under the influence of intoxicants, there was no mechanical fault with her car and she remained at the scene.

Judge Crowe said a headline sentence of 18 month was appropriate before she imposed a sentence of 12 months which she suspended for two years.

Aleksandrowicz was also disqualified from driving for two years.