Man charged with ‘furious driving’ after injuring a female cyclist to be sentenced in August after changing plea

A man charged with ‘furious driving’ after injuring a woman while cycling will be sentenced in August after changing his plea. 

Shane Coyle (26) from Kingsmere Gardens in Derry admitted one charge of furious driving when he was re-arraigned at Derry Crown Court today.

The offence occurred on the Belt Road on August 14, 2023 when the female victim was walking and was struck from behind by Coyle. He'd originally denied the offence and a trial date had been fixed for October 20.

Following his guilty plea Judge Neil Rafferty K.C. asked a barrister for the Public Prosecution Service if there were any guidelines in terms of sentencing for such an offence.

The barrister said that he was not aware of any.

Judge Rafferty said it was probably equivalent to the careless driving of a car. He said the aggravating factors of the case were that the incident occurred on the footpath and that Coyle struck the woman from behind while cycling at speed.

He said he was also aware that Coyle had rendered assistance to the woman and stayed with her until an ambulance arrived.

Judge Rafferty told Coyle he'd sentence him on August 18 and he released the defendant on continuing bail until that date.