A LEARNER DRIVER who ran over her then-girlfriend during “horseplay”, leaving her with life-changing injuries, has been given a two-year suspended sentence.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Lana Dowling, then 19, was moving the car forward while her then-partner was on the bonnet of the car. Her partner fell and was run over by the car.

Dowling, now aged 20, of Shanganagh Cliffs, Shankill, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm at Shanganagh Cliffs, Shankill, on 24 October 2024.

She has no previous convictions.

Judge Martin Nolan said the incident had occurred after the pair engaged in conversation which developed into “a playful act or horseplay in relation to the car.”

He said at a certain point the injured party was on the bonnet close to the passenger door, while Dowling was driving the car, the car jerked or moved, and the victim was tragically run over by the car.

He observed she sustained devastating injuries and was in a coma for several days. He said she spent a long time in hospital dealing with these injuries and continues to have long-term problems with pain and disability.

He noted she was very traumatised and it will take a long time to recover physically and psychologically.

Judge Nolan commented that the driver of the car bears ultimate responsibility for control of the car and said Dowling should not have engaged in this act with her then partner, which had tragic consequences.

He noted she was a learner driver who was not accompanied by an experienced driver. The car was fully insured and taxed.

He took into account she has no prior record, has a good work ethic and after this event she had attended regularly at the hospital. He said she is remorseful and the relationship has since broken down.

The judge said dangerous driving causing harm is an unusual offence, noting the person who pleads guilty did not intend to cause the harm but did so by their negligent behaviour.

He said it was a very elastic crime which can range from serious to minor culpability, noting the court had previously dealt with cases involving driving under the influence of drugs, excessive speed and reckless driving.

He said it was an unusual case where both parties were in a playful mood and having fun, but the prime responsibility rested with the driver, who should not have engaged in this behaviour.

In assessing where to place the case on the spectrum, he said she did not think at the time she was behaving dangerously but it was dangerous behaviour.

He said he thought it would be undeserved and unjust for Dowling to go to prison, but he was very much aware of the long-term consequences for the victim. He said Dowling was morally culpable, but he did not think it had risen to the point where the court had to, or should, imprison her.

Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of two years which he suspended in full and disqualified her from driving for five years.

Garda Lee O’Donoghue told Rebecca Smith BL, prosecuting, that he attended the scene at around 2.40pm after gardaí received a 999 call about a road traffic collision.

He found the injured party trapped under the rear passenger side of a silver Nissan Micra and screaming for help. The court heard she had blood coming from her hairline and her legs were turned 180 degrees.

Dowling was at the scene and admitted she had been driving the car. She said they had been “joking and messing” with the injured party on the bonnet.

She said her partner said: “No, seriously stop I am going to fall off”, before she fell and went under the car.

Dowling passed a roadside breath test and a drug swipe test. It was accepted she had no alcohol or drugs in her system. The victim was transferred to hospital.

An eyewitness described seeing someone holding onto the passenger side of the car, unable to say if they were standing or falling, before in a split second, the car went bump twice, “like two speed bumps”, followed by a dragging sound.

They said they believed the driver pulled the handbrake and the car stalled and jolted. The witness said the driver, who appeared to be in shock said “it’s my girlfriend” and “I am so sorry”.

The witness saw someone underneath the car and called an ambulance.

Medical reports before the court outlined the young woman suffered a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, chest injuries, pelvic injuries, lower limb injuries, multiple abrasions and neuropathic pain.

She underwent surgery to fix her pelvis and the court heard rods and plates were inserted.

She was in a coma for six days and spent several months in hospital.  She had no recollection of the incident.

Dowling spoke to gardaí and said they had been laughing and joking and she was moving forward slowly after the injured party jumped onto the bonnet. She said the next thing she recalled, the woman had fallen.

She said she rushed to assist her, was in shock and struggling to make sense of what had happened.

Dowling told gardaí she was truly sorry and wished to help the woman recover as best she could. She said she realised it could have been avoided and the seriousness of what occurred was not lost on her.

In a victim impact statement, the young woman said her life had been “turned upside down” and that she had been left with nightmares, pain and confusion after waking from a coma.

She said she still cannot walk without help and has been left with “horrific pain and weakness”. She described feeling every day as if her foot was “in a bonfire” and said no medication works.

She said she struggles with memory problems, anger and the psychological impact of what happened. She also outlined the impact on her wider family.

Gerardine Small SC, defending, said Dowling offered an unreserved apology for her actions. She asked the court to consider her early guilty plea, remorse and acceptance of responsibility.

Counsel handed in a number of testimonials, including a letter from Dowling herself outlining she was “profoundly sorry” for what occurred. She accepted she had made a serious error in judgement.

Dowling said she had witnessed the pain, fear and uncertainty the injured party and her family were going through and knowing her actions had contributed to that was something she carried every day.

Counsel said Dowling had left college and a part-time job due to the impact of this event. She has no drink or drug issues and a strong work ethic.

She asked the court to consider it a momentary lapse in judgement and attention, albeit one with very serious consequences for the victim.