Cyclist contests careless driving charge

A cyclist is to contest a charge of careless driving on a bicycle on New Year’s eve 2013.

At Ennis District Court yesterday, Caoimhe Collins, solicitor for cyclist Thomas Murphy, told Judge Patrick Durcan that a date would be required for a hearing in the case.

When the case first came before the court in May, Judge Durcan said that it was the first such case he had come across in his court.

Insp Tom Kennedy agreed, telling the court: “I have never come across a case like this myself.”

In the case, Mr Murphy, aged 36, of Moyhill, Cratloe, Co Clare, is charged with the careless driving of a pedal cycle at lunchtime on the Ennis-Limerick dual carriage-way on December 31, 2013.

Mr Murphy is charged with careless driving under Section 52 (1) of a Road Traffic Act dating back more than 50 years to 1961.

He is charged with careless driving on the Ennis to Limerick dual-carriageway near Limerick City between Cratloemoyle roundabout and Meelick roundabout on the date.

The charge arises from Mr Murphy and his bike allegedly colliding with a parked Toyota Yaris on the hard shoulder of the dual carriageway.

Judge Durcan adjourned the case to October 8 for hearing.