Molly Cahill jailed for Penshurst hit and run of motorbike riders
A young woman who left two motorbike riders with horrendous injuries when she ploughed into them and fled the scene has collapsed, screamed and cried as she was sentenced for her crimes.
St George Shire Standard
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A young woman collapsed before she was escorted handcuffed, screaming and crying from a Sydney court after she was sentenced to jail for running down a couple on a motorbike and fleeing the scene.
Molly Cahill, 24, was jailed for at least 18 months at Downing Centre Local Court after she pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, causing bodily harm by misconduct and failing to stop after a hit and run in Penshurst in April 2019.
The court heard Cahill did not remember the crash but had likely fallen asleep at the wheel before she ploughed into a motorcyclist and his female passenger on Forest Rd at 1.20am on April 8 last year, leaving them with hideous leg injuries.
Magistrate Michael Antrum sentenced Cahill to a maximum 30 months’ imprisonment and disqualified her from driving until 2025 as the court also heard she was caught drug driving while on bail after the horrific accident.
“You said you were feeling very tired, and at the time your sentencing assessment report was made you did not feel at fault for the accident,” Mr Antrum said.
“There is a need for you to understand that the injuries suffered were significant and probably lifelong – I’ve expressed my concern about your lack of insight and proper contrition and remorse.”
The male victim suffered a horrific “de-gloving” injury to his thigh as well as cuts and fractures which required sutures and screws to be inserted into his leg.
He ultimately underwent six surgeries at St George Hospital, while his partner suffered a significant skin injury to her knee and a wrist fracture which required two surgeries.
The court heard Cahill was suffering from insomnia and post-traumatic stress prior to the crash after the tragic death of her seven-week-old son due to sudden infant death syndrome.
“We are dealing with, it seems, a naive young lady with some mental health and other issues in her life,” Mr Antrum said.
“None could be more distressing to her than the loss of her very young child early in 2019 and it is not lost on the court as to how that would have impacted upon her.”
The victims told police they saw Cahill’s headlights coming towards them as she swerved onto the wrong side of the road and attempted to evade her but could not.
CCTV footage obtained by police showed Cahill continuing to drive on the wrong side of the road after the collision while neighbours rushed to the injured riders’ aid.
“She told police she heard a bang, looked to the right and saw the mirror was gone,” Mr Antrum said.
“Police had the opportunity of looking at texts from the offender immediately after the collision, including one to her friend saying “God, what if I hurt him?”
Cahill fell to her seat in the courtroom after the sentence was finalised and was in such distress it took several minutes before Corrective Services could check her temperature and take her into custody.
She was led sobbing through the courthouse into the cells before she was granted bail in advance of a District Court appeal.
She returns to court in August.