Witness tells of pensioner tragedy

A witness in the trial of a Kildare truck driver accused of dangerous driving causing death has described how she and her six year old son saw a pensioner run over by an articulated lorry.

Michael Dunne, aged 43, of Sprabstown, Ballytore, County Kildare denies dangerous driving on Grand Canal Place, Dublin 8 on December 30, 2004 which caused the death of 72 year old John Hughes.

Ms Gillian Brannigan told Mr Cormac Quinn BL, prosecuting, that she was going to her local shop with her son when she saw an elderly man cycling from the direction of the nearby Guinness Brewery.

Ms Brannigan said a large lorry arrived and began moving across the wrong side of the road to turn into the Brewery, She said the cyclist braked suddenly and fell off his bike whie the lorry continued turning and ran over him.

Ms Brannigan said she was shocked to see the man go under the front of the lorry. Her son was hysterical and she was very shaken so she turned round and went home.

The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Michael White and a jury of five men and seven women.