Disqualified scrambler rider (25) who seriously injured young woman is jailed

Sonya McLean

A disqualified driver who knocked over a pedestrian as he was doing a wheelie on a scrambler bike has been jailed for five years.

Clayton Lieghio (25) was estimated to be travelling at speeds in excess of 85 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, in a residential area on a winter’s night.

The bike had no mechanical defects; however, the court heard it is not designed for road use as it has no lights, no mirrors, no indicators, and it was not registered, not taxed, and he was not insured to drive it.

The 23-year-old woman was knocked down and immediately unresponsive and clearly seriously injured. She was later treated for head and spinal injuries in Beaumont Hospital as well as multiple fractured ribs, a fractured pelvis, a fractured spine, and numerous cuts and abrasions.

The woman spent two months in hospital and continues to have cognitive issues.

Lieghio was removed from the scene by others before emergency services arrived. He was also treated in Beamount Hospiotal for a deep cut to the right side of his head and a cut to his leg. He was not wearing a helmet at the time.

Lieghio, of Primrose Grove, Darndale, pleaded guilty days before his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to reckless endangerment and having no insurance at Priorswood in Coolock on October 24th, 2021.

He had previously been disqualified from driving for two years for driving a scrambler bike without insurance.

Lieghio had been in the Priorswood Inn just before the collision. There had been a violent disturbance in the pub that night and all customers had been asked to leave. Lieghio was later sentenced for his role in that disturbance.

The woman had also been in the same pub and was walking home with friends when she was struck.

A victim impact statement, read into the record by Detective Garda Alan Roche, stated that she had received a lot of injuries which required numerous medical treatments and time to recover. She said life in the aftermath had been “challenging”.

The woman said she held no hatred towards Lieghio, stating that people can make mistakes that have serious consequences. She said she hoped that they could both move on with their lives now.

Judge Martin Nolan said the woman had prepared a very forgiving victim impact statement which he said was “to her credit”.

“By reasons of her injuries she will have ongoing issues for a considerable period of time,” he said.

Judge Nolan said the driving was “quite serious and quite dangerous” noting the speed involved and the manner of driving, referring to the fact that Lieghio was performing wheelies at the time.

He said the bike had no lights, was not roadworthy and Lieghio should not have been using it in a public space as a disqualified driver.

“It was intentional behaviour, he drove this way intentionally and he was going to endanger others by driving in this manner,” Judge Nolan said.

Judge Nolan accepted that Lieghio has expressed remorse and is doing well in custody before he imposed a five year sentence backdated to when he first went into custody in February 2025. He disqualified Lieghio from driving for seven years.

Det Gda Roche told Dominic McGinn, prosecuting, that witnesses to the incident described hearing a loud motorcycle accelerating.

One motorist said the scrambler passed him on the wrong side of the road travelling at speed. He said the rider had no helmet, was in dark clothing and the bike had no lights.

A witness said Lieghio revved the engine, performed a wheelie and was looking skyward when he struck the woman who had walked across his path.

Others said that the woman, Lieghio and the bike continued for about 20 feet before coming to a stop. Her hair was entangled in the bike.

Others said they heard someone say “we need to get out of here” before the injured Lieghio was put in the back of a car and driven away.

Lieghio was tracked down in December 2023 and arrested. He made no admissions and initially was due to stand trial for dangerous driving causing serious harm. He pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of endangerment a day before his trial.

The woman was immediately taken to the intensive care unit. She had brain and spinal injuries, multiple cuts and up to nine fractured ribs. She had fractures to the base of her spine, pelvis and shin bone. She required multiple surgeries and needed psychiatric care due to “the life-altering nature of her injuries”, McGinn told the court.

The woman has ongoing cognitive difficulties, spent some time in the National Rehabilitation Centre and required speech and language therapy.

Det Gda Roche said there was street lighting in the area that night and the weather was dry. There were speed calming measures, chicanes, on the road. Expert witnesses who viewed the CCTV footage estimated that Lieghio was driving between 88 and 98 km/hr when he struck the woman.

Lieghio has a conviction for having no insurance in connection with the use of a scrambler bike on December 9th, 2020.

He was disqualified from driving for two years. He later received a 12 month sentence for affray that occurred earlier that same night in the Priorswood Inn. He was on bail for assault and violent disorder at the time of the collision.

John Byrne, defending, said his client wished to offer his unreserved apologies for his behaviour on the night and said he had never set out to cause anyone harm.

“If there had been any forethought, he would not have engaged in this behaviour,” counsel said before he added that Lieghio accepts that his behaviour posed a risk.

Byrne said his client has “enhanced status in prison” before he handed in a number of references on his behalf. He said Lieghio’s family are supportive of him. He hopes to lead a pro-social life on his release from prison.

Counsel asked the court to accept that Lieghio did not drive at or through any group of people.