Careless driving case collapses

The trial of a 24-year-old woman for careless driving causing the death of her younger friend more than three years ago on the Cork/Kerry border has collapsed after the jury received a prosecution exhibit document, part of which they should not have seen.

At 2.40pm yesterday, trial judge Thomas E O’Donnell recalled the jury who had been sworn in on Tuesday. The judge apologised to them but said he had no choice but to discharge them after an application by the defence.

The trial of Sarah O’Connell was in its third day. She had pleaded not guilty to the charge of careless driving causing the death of Caitlin Taylor aged 14 of Gouldshill, Mallow at Knockeenahone, Scartaglen, on June 15, 2014.