‘This will affect my job if you die’: Glasgow nurse killed grandad walking his dog

Pamela Kennedy, 35, struck Martin Cawley, 64, and his pet Zoe as they crossed a road in Glasgow’s Wellhouse on February 6, 2023.

She claimed that she swerved her red Nissan Micra to avoid hitting Zoe and did not see Mr Cawley.

Kennedy gave Mr Cawley CPR at the scene and was heard saying: “Don’t do this to me, you have got to live, this will affect my job if you die.”

Kennedy was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of causing Mr Cawley’s death by careless driving.

Her lawyer Graham Mann today told the sentencing that his client had three points for speeding on her licence at the time of the offence.

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Sheriff Tony Kelly tagged Kennedy keeping her indoors for six months between 7pm and 7am as well as imposing the unpaid work order.

She was also disqualified from driving for two years and put under supervision for 18 months.

The sheriff said: “I have read the vivid impact statements from his wife and each of his children.

“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.

“He did not get to see his grandchild who was born one week after his death.

“Each family member wrote about the profound loss and lasting consequences.

“They provide heartbreaking details each of them will have to live with – a life cut short.

“The court does not wish to mitigate the deep loss of Mr Cawley and the sentence cannot be expected to be solace to his family.

“There is nothing this court can do to reflect the loss suffered.

“The court requires to punish you for the dreadful consequences of that driving to Mr Cawley and his family.”

The court heard that Mr Cawley was walking Zoe while a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were nearby around 8.30pm.

Prosecutor Susan Campbell told jurors in her closing speech: “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. His top half was on the kerb while his legs were on the road.”

The boy phoned an ambulance while the girl went to help the stricken victim.

Witness Craig Caldwell stopped his vehicle and saw Kennedy, of the city’s Millerston, giving Mr Cawley CPR.

It was then the comment about her job being affected was heard by Mr Caldwell.

Miss Campbell added: “Mr Caldwell also heard Kennedy say that she tried to avoid the dog but hit Mr Cawley.”

Another witness claimed to have heard Kennedy say: “I swerved to miss the dog and didn’t see the man.”

An ambulance arrived five to 10 minutes later as members of Mr Cawley’s family appeared.

Miss Campbell said: “His pregnant daughter told him to live to see his grandchild.”

The fiscal depute stated that Mr Cawley was so “severely injured” that he died at the scene.

Zoe was put to sleep the following day due to her injuries.

Mr Cawley’s cause of death was “neck and chest injuries due to road traffic collision.”

Miss Campbell stated to jurors: “Had Kennedy paid proper attention she could have stopped in ample time and distance and avoided colliding with Mr Cawley and his dog – she did not do this.”

Mr Mann told the sentencing that Kennedy is now a bank nurse at a care home in the city’s Drumchapel.

The lawyer said: “It is clear this has been a taxing ordeal on Mr Cawley’s family and this is not lost on my client.

“She considers this to be a tragic event for his family.”