AN ARNEY woman who crashed after suffering an epileptic seizure has been disqualified for dangerous driving.
Geraldine McCusker (52) of Granshagh Road, Arney appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday where she pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to notify authorities of a disability, and making a false declaration to obtain insurance.
At around 10.20am on Tuesday, May 10th 2016 police were called to a two vehicle crash on the bridge leading to Henry Street.
McCusker’s red Vauxhall Astra appeared to have crossed the central white van and crashed into a camper van.
The Astra ended up hanging in a precarious position between the parameter fence and the footpath, over the river.
McCusker was taken to hospital, and no one in the camper van was injured.
On May 25 McCusker, who has suffered with epilepsy since 2007 and is currently receiving treatment in London, was interviewed for the offence of dangerous driving.
In July police received documents from the defendant’s insurance company which showed she had not disclosed she had a medical condition.
When re-interviewed for the offence of making a false declaration, McCusker said she’d been having seizures for nine years but until that day had always had warning signs. With regard to the accident, she said she could not remember what happened.
Defence barrister Ciaran Roddy said the photos of the crash scene showed it was clear McCusker had lost consciousness. Mr Roddy said she hadn’t been driving in the first place and had been a risk to herself and others, adding it was a “slice of good fortune” no one had been hurt.
Mr Roddy explained that, prior to the crash, every time McCusker had a seizure previously she’d felt irritable and a sense of deja-vu beforehand. Due to the consistency of her symptoms, he said she’d felt safe to drive.
The barrister added the mother-of-four, who receives around £1,200 a month in benefits, hadn’t driven since and her licence had been suspended.
District Judge Nigel Broderick told McCusker she’d taken a significant risk by driving. He disqualified her from driving for a total of 18 months, and fined her a total of £500.
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