Victim Impact statement conveys Cork teen's pain and frustration at mother's death

Lisa O'Brien's mother Teresa was killed when she was knocked off her bicycle in April last year

Catriona Hurley pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death before Judge James McNulty. File picture: iStock

"I have procrastinated in putting together this victim impact statement for many weeks as I have viewed it as being pointless not having an impact on the sentence to be decided. I viewed it as a waste of time as I believe it fools victims into believing that they are able to influence punishments."

The closing paragraph of Lisa O'Brien's victim impact statement, read in Skibbereen District Court, was clear in its pain and frustration. Lisa, aged 16 when her mother, Teresa, died after being knocked from her bicycle in April last year, had offered her views to the court, as had her older sister, Margaret, 24, but neither were in attendance. Both said it was too painful.