Mrs McKenna started to cross over as the cone indicated it was safe to cross. Her six-year old guide dog Gwen started to move from the kerb. Just then a small red car revved up and started quickly around the corner past Pauline making the dog pull back sharply.
[caption id="attachment_20822" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Pauline McKenna from Dunsford with her guide dog Gwenn."]
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“This dog could have saved my life. The driver just was not paying attention and was certainly driving too fast. He sped past me at a terrific rate and a man who was crossing in the opposite direction was shouting at the car.
“Thankfully Gwenn is fully trained by Guide Dogs and she knew how to respond to this incident. She is a terrific dog. This is the second time this has happened in Downpatrick recently. The other time was when I was crossing at the pelican crossing beside the bus station when a car sped past me very closely. Someone is going to get seriously injured or worse with this sort of driving when visually impaired people are about.
“I spoke to the police about this and they have asked me to make a complaint in writing. I understand the red car may have been caught on video on the CCTV cameras in the centre of Downpatrick.
“There is no excuse for such dangerous driving. With the street works in the centre of Downpatrick is is difficult enough getting around without  this to worry about,” she added.
Some time ago I had the Road Service department check all the crossing lights in Downpatrick and they installed these cone indicator systems which were absent. The DOE Roads Service took me around Downpatrick and we checked out all the lights. They were very helpful.]]>
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