TD 'advised' not to contact accident victim

GV Wright said he did not contact the nurse whose leg was broken in four places in a collision involving the Fianna Fáil TD, because he was advised legally not to do so.

Anne Butler said Mr Wright had made no effort to get in touch with her since she was injured while crossing the road in Dublin a week ago.

Deputy Wright was driving under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred.

She said did not know Mr Wright was the driver of the car until she switched on the news yesterday.

“I could have been buried and he doesn’t know the difference,” she said.

“Nobody contacted me, nobody. No phone calls, no letters of apology. No cards, not even one flower sent to the hospital just to see whether I was still alive.”

Mr Wright issued a statement apologising to the victim yesterday, admitting he was over the alcohol limit while driving home from the Dáil last Thursday.

He apologised unreservedly to Mrs Butler and her family for what he described as a serious lapse of personal responsibility, and wished her a “complete and expeditious” recovery.

He said he was fully cooperating with an investigation by Irish police into the accident.

Mrs Butler, from the North Strand area of Dublin, said her leg was broken in four places and that there was a possibility it could be amputated from the knee down.

She spent seven days in hospital, where two steel rods were placed in her leg, along with a number of bolts and steel pins.

She called on Mr Wright to contact her and explain his actions.

“I would like to see him face to face to see what was the point of the minister for transport bringing in a points system when obviously it doesn’t work with his colleagues,” she added.

The Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North was arrested immediately after the accident and could face drink driving charges.