The daughter of a woman who died after being knocked down by an e-scooter has described planned legislation on e-scooters as progress.

Denise McDonald’s mother, Peg Bernie, died in June 2023, three days after she was knocked down by an e-scooter driven by Aaron Gumbel who was sentenced to eight years in prison in October 2024.

McDonald told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that high-vis jackets, helmets and increasing the legal age for their usage were all welcome moves.

“What has been difficult for me is that in all of the conversations of late, the people, and I say this with the utmost respect and acknowledgement of all families affected by anybody at all, no matter what the circumstances, who have lost somebody or someone belonging to them has been injured by an e-scooter, but our situation with our mother isn't part of the narrative currently.

“I would love to see the guards, and everybody resourced properly so that they have the ability to enforce the laws as they currently exist.

"We were talking about e-scooter changes three years ago when my mum was knocked down, and the situation with them is worse than ever.

“Whilst it's encouraging, it's difficult to accept or believe that things are going to change very quickly.”

When asked if she would like to have seen an outright ban, McDonald acknowledged that many people use e-scooters responsibly, “if we can't immediately change behaviour, at least an outright ban until we get our ducks in a row, until we have the resources there to legislate and enforce the laws as they're going to change, then yes, I would have supported a ban.”

[Ireland

No outright ban on e-scooters as new measures announced](https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/no-outright-ban-on-e-scooters-as-new-measures-announced-1929479.html)

Aaron Gumble had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, leaving the scene and theft of an e-scooter.

Mary Bernie (87) died from her injuries three days after she was struck in Eccles Street, Dublin.

Gumble had been on bail for theft offences at the time; he was sentenced to eight years, with the final 18 months suspended. He was also disqualified from driving for 10 years.

McDonald said she hoped that other families would be saved from the “immeasurable loss” her family had suffered.