Nurse convicted of fatal careless driving receives community service

A nurse, convicted of causing the death of a man walking his dog, has been sentenced to 300 hours of community service. Pamela Kennedy, aged 35, was driving the vehicle that hit Martin Cawley, 64, and his dog, Zoe, on 6 February last year, as they were crossing a street in the Wellhouse area of Glasgow. Kennedy stated that she swerved her red Nissan Micra to prevent striking Zoe and did not observe Mr Cawley. She administered CPR to him at the location and was overheard saying to him: “You have got to live, this will affect my job if you die.” Following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Kennedy was found guilty of causing Mr Cawley’s death through careless driving. Sheriff Tony Kelly mandated that Kennedy, who resides in the Millerston area of the city, be subject to an electronic tag for a period of six months, requiring her to remain at home from 19:00 to 07:00. Additionally, she received a two-year driving disqualification, 18 months of supervision, and the aforementioned unpaid work order. The sheriff noted that the victim impact statements submitted by Mr Cawley’s wife and children provided “heartbreaking” accounts of a life prematurely ended. “His wife wrote that there was a future retirement planned which is now lost and she receives treatment to help with her trauma after that night,” Sheriff Kelly stated. “He did not get to see his grandchild who was born one week after his death.” “Each family member wrote about the profound lost and lasting consequences.” Sheriff Kelly acknowledged that the court’s actions could not adequately reflect the magnitude of the loss experienced. However, he informed Kennedy: “The court requires to punish you for the dreadful consequences of that driving to Mr Cawley and his family.” Testimony presented in court indicated that Mr Cawley was walking Zoe around 20:30 on 6 February 2023, with a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl in the vicinity. Prosecutor Susan Campbell conveyed to the jurors in her closing remarks: “The girl said Zoe was behind Mr Cawley, to his side.” “He started to cross the road and both witnesses said he was almost at the other side when they heard a bang then turned their heads.” “What they saw was the awful sight of Mr Cawley falling to the floor.” The boy contacted emergency services, while the girl proceeded to assist the man. Witness Craig Caldwell brought his vehicle to a halt and observed Kennedy performing CPR on Mr Cawley. Mr Caldwell subsequently heard Kennedy utter: “Don’t do this to me, you have got to live, this will affect my job if you die.” A different witness reported hearing her state: “I swerved to miss the dog and didn’t see the man.” An ambulance arrived within five to ten minutes, coinciding with the arrival of members of Mr Cawley’s family. Ms Campbell recounted: “His pregnant daughter told him to live to see his grandchild.” Nevertheless, Mr Cawley succumbed to his neck and chest injuries at the scene. Zoe was euthanized the subsequent day due to the injuries she sustained. Ms Campbell informed the jurors that had Kennedy exercised due care and observed Mr Cawley entering the road, she would have had “in ample time” to stop and prevent the collision with Mr Cawley and his dog. Graham Mann, Kennedy’s legal representative, stated that she is currently employed as a bank nurse at a care home located in the city’s Drumchapel area. He further mentioned that his client recognized the incident as “a tragic event” for Mr Cawley’s family.