An Armagh woman received a prison sentence for causing a cyclist’s death due to texting while driving.
The judge said she’d serve half in jail, half on license. He noted she sent two texts in the 40 seconds before the crash, meaning she would have had to type them out. He said she paid more attention to another car, focusing on it more than what was ahead; this happened before the fatal crash.
The prosecution said it was prolonged bad driving that led to a tragic loss of life. The judge also said it was more than just phone use and emphasized to everyone that it wasn’t a momentary lapse. He noted she was texting while driving and veered onto the verge twice.
The judge knew it impacts her young kids, but this crime is very serious. This sentence deters others, he said sternly.
McGeown admitted to causing Ronald Walker’s death by driving dangerously on Lisburn Road in Moira on March 26, 2020. She was first charged with careless driving but the PPS, after reviewing the evidence, increased the charge to a more serious one.
The judge recalled the case details during sentencing. He said McGeown drove her Seat Leon towards Moira, and the crash happened around 6 PM during the first COVID lockdown when traffic was very light. The road was in good shape, and the weather was clear; she failed to see Mr. Walker on his bike and hit him from behind.
Police and paramedics arrived quickly, but sadly, they pronounced the 57-year-old, a father of two children, dead at the scene. The judge spoke about events before the crash and the police investigation into Mr. Walker’s avoidable death. Police interviewed a driver behind McGeown’s car who said the Seat Leon veered left twice and kicked up dust from the road’s edge.
The witness could see the cyclist despite being behind her car and passed McGeown and the cyclist. He saw movement in his mirror and found McGeown in her car on the phone, calling for help. He asked if she had been texting, but she denied it; the judge told this to the court during the sentencing.
According to the judge, McGeown denied using her phone and couldn’t explain why she didn’t see the cyclist. She said she used it at a junction while stopped, but police got CCTV footage that proved her wrong. Her phone showed she used it before the crash, receiving and reading two texts; she also accessed Facebook and sent two texts. She got a message at 5:46 PM but did not read it before the incident, which they believe occurred around this time.
McGeown denied using her phone in initial police interviews and was released while they investigated further. They investigated her phone records, and a forensic engineer reconstructed the accident, finding that she had a 400-meter view ahead and a cyclist was visible from 180 meters.
She was questioned again a year later, and the police showed her strong phone evidence. She still denied using the phone, stating she got distracted by another car.
She kept denying it until she admitted her guilt last year. The judge said her admission was a factor, along with her clear record and remorse. However, she caused great harm to the Walker family.
The judge would not add to the family’s grief, saying he read Walker’s sister’s heartfelt and powerful statement that showed how loved and missed her brother is. He didn’t see his daughter’s graduation or wedding and won’t hold his grandchildren. The judge quoted guideline cases, saying sadly, nothing can turn back time.
In addition to the jail sentence, she got a four-year ban, meaning she cannot drive a car for four years.