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Five years for 21-year-old man that took the lives of two Dundalk men
A 21-year-old man charged in connection with a fatal two-car crash in County Louth three years ago was sentenced to five years and banned from driving for 15 years at Dundalk Circuit Court yesterday (Tuesday).
Daniel O'Riordan of Point Road, Bellurgan had denied dangerous driving causing the deaths of George Campbell and David Keenan at Annaloughan, Jenkinstown on March 25th 2007.
The jury of six men and six women returned their unanimous guilty verdicts to all seven charges around 3.20pm after almost three hours of deliberations.
They also convicted Daniel O'Riordan of failing to report the collision to gardai as soon as possible, and five other charges, including the possession and unlawful use of a stolen Audi A4, and failing to have insurance or a driver's licence.
The court heard the accused had 23 previous convictions ranging from robbery and assault causing harm, to car theft, and at the time of the offence had been bound to the peace as part of a suspended sentence from the Circuit Court.
Sgt. Brendan Keane told the court that David Keenan had celebrated his birthday on St. Patrick's Day just eight days before the collision.
The middle child and only son of his parents, the court heard he had been associating with Daniel O'Riordan for some time before the accident against the wishes of his family.
And on the night in question his parents believed he was in bed, where he was at 12.30am when his mother went to bed.
Sgt. Keane added that George Campbell was 64 at the time of the collision, and was looking forward to the birth of his second grandchild.
Defence Barrister Derek Kenneally S.C told the court the death of David Keenan – whom he "regarded as one of his best and closest friends" had had a huge impact Daniel O'Riordan .
He described the accused as "a clearly troubled and dysfunctional young man" and outlined how he had lost his brother Aaron, five months before the crash.
The court heard Daniel O'Riordan is the father of a 15-month-old girl and has since separated from his wife, who along with his mother had attended throughout the trial.
The barrister also referred to an incident at his mother's home in November last year when three knives were recovered after gardai subdued the accused.
The court heard they had been called their by the defendant's mother as he had been "acting in a very disturbing manner".
Mr. Kenneally said "something very serious and dysfunctional was going on in this family that was never properly addressed or repaired" but that said he must accept responsibility for his own actions in his life.
The barrister further argued that his client "finds himself at a turning point in his life" and now had "insight into the devastation that his behaviour has caused to a number of people over an extended period of time".
Judge Matthew Deery said the collision had all the hallmarks of a high speed collision and there was no doubt the jury accepted that explanation for the wreckage that had been shown in the photos of the scene.
Judge Deery also said he was "satisfied Mr. O’Riordan had sufficient opportunity to avoid this impact” and noted that “any view of his record is bad”
He also imposed consecutive sentences and disqualifications as well as fines totalling €1,150 for six other offences including failing to report the collision to gardai as soon as possible, the possession and unlawful use of a stolen Audi A4 and driving it without insurance or a licence.
Judge Deery directed that the sentences are to run from February next year – when Daniel O’Riordan completes the current jail term he is serving.
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Weather for Dundalk
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Light showers
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