Wallasey motorcyclist who crashed into elderly Kirkdale woman causing fatal injuries jailed for 12 months
A SPEEDING motorcyclist from Wallasey who ploughed into an elderly woman causing fatal injuries was jailed for twelve months today.Stephen McTigue had been travelling at one and a half times the 30mph speed limit and did not see his victim Mary Wilson as she crossed the road from his offside.
"You did not hit her because you could not stop in time, but because you did not look out for her and did not see her," said Judge Henry Globe QC, the Recorder of Liverpool.
"You had seven seconds to see her, you failed to do so and collided with her causing her death.
"Her loss has caused devastation to the lives of all around her and there is nothing that can be done in this court that can ever bring her back and ease the pain and anguish that is the consequence of your wrong doing."
Construction worker McTigue, a father of two young boys from Leominster Road, Wallasey, admitted causing the death of the 72-year-old grandmother by careless driving.
In addition to his jail sentence he was also banned from driving for three years.
Anya Horwood, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that the tragedy occurred about 7.45am on December 6 last year as Mrs Wilson was crossing Stanley Road, Kirkdale, 25 metres away from a pelican crossing, on her way to a general store.
It was damp and dark and McTigue struck her moments after overtaking a car driven by nurse Emma Gregson.
She then saw the Yamaha RS600cc motorcycle lying on the ground and McTigue standing up but injured.
"She stopped to assist and then saw Mrs Wilson lying on the road," said Miss Horwood.
She asked others present to call an ambulance and began trying to resuscitate her but she was already dead.
Accident investigators found McTigue had been travelling at between 39mph to 47mph.
When McTigue, who was also taken to hospital, was later interviewed he said he was on his way to work as an earth moving machine operator, when the accident took place.
He said he could not recall overtaking the car. He looked in his mirror and looked up and then saw Mrs Wilson in his view.
Tom Watson, defending, said that McTigue, who has a previous conviction for drink driving, was genuinely devastated by the impact of his driving and it was a burden he would carry forever.
He said that McTigue, who wiped away tears during the hearing, had made "a terrible, terrible mistake and drove too fast and caused this accident. It was his fault and he is profoundly sorry".
Mr Watson said McTigue has a supportive partner and two sons, aged three years and eight weeks old, and is a hard working man who suffered the loss of his younger brother last year.
THE GLOBE
