Man jailed over e-scooter rider's death in Dundalk
Man who was driving at between 169km/h and 189 km/h moments before his car collided with an e-scooter rider who had just left an IPAS centre, has been jailed for three years at Dundalk Circuit Court.
A 24 year old man who was driving at between 169km/h and 189 km/h moments before his car collided with an e-scooter rider who had just left an IPAS centre with a friend, has been jailed for three years at Dundalk Circuit Court.
In sentencing Matthew Mongan of Reask Green, Commons Road, Navan for dangerous driving causing the death of Seif Eddine Boudisa on the Armagh Road, Dundalk on August 19th 2023, Judge Dara Hayes said it was a stark and tragic demonstration of the consequences that speed can have.
The victim, an Algerian national, and his friend had left the Carnbeg hotel on e-scooters after 11pm and were travelling towards Dundalk, when he was struck by an Audi A3 driven by Matthew Mongan who had left his partner's home to buy cigarettes at Applegreen on the Newry Road.
The defendant told gardaí he had heard a sound from the clutch and had taken it out the Armagh Road to check it out as he had planned to swap it for another car the next day.
Judge Dara Hayes said Mr Mongan had driven at considerable speed and appeared to be racing another car before he turned and was making his way back when the collision happened 245 metres from the Carnbeg hotel.
Seif Eddine Boudisa who was travelling 10 metres behind his friend, was thrown by the force of the impact into a hedge 30 metres from the point of impact. His left leg was severed below the knee and his scooter disintegrated in the collision.
Matthew Mongan, who shortly before the collision had been travelling at between 169 and 189 km/h - where an 80 km/h speed limit applied, lost control of his car, which spun and flipped and came to rest 175 metres away.
The other e-scooter rider, who was hospitalised for a number of weeks, sustained a fractured forehead and nasal injuries and his life has been profoundly impacted both physically and mentally.
Judge Hayes noted that in her victim impact statement, Seif Eddine's mother described how he had "grown up in depravation and poverty but with love and care".
He was a talented soccer player and a good a hard working student. His aunt described him as being loved by everyone who knew him and the court noted he had come to to Europe to support his family.
The judge extended the court's deepest condolences to Mr Boudisa's family and friends and said nothing "will ever address or put right the awful tragedy and loss suffered" by his death.
Judge Hayes noted both the deceased and his friend were dressed in dark, non-reflective clothing and only the e-scooter in front had lights on it. The headlights on the defendant's car were on at the time, it was not dangerously defective and the road and weather conditions were good.
He said the accused had shown total disregard for his own safety and the safety of other road users and had no opportunity to react - with no brake marks identified at the scene.
The defendant had remained at the scene, has remorse and was fully licensed and insured and drink and drugs were not involved and he was not using a mobile phone but Judge Hayes said the cause of Mr Boudisa's death and his friend's injuries, was the egregiously excessive speed Matthew Mongan was driving at.
The court noted the defendant is a father of an 18 month old child and acts in a parental role two his partner's two other young children.
He had expressed his condolences, apology, remorse and responsibility and acknowledged the irreversible loss suffered by the Boudisa family and had said he was aware that whatever sentence is imposed on him cannot compare to their daily pain.
Judge Hayes added "He says he lived a quiet life revolving around his family and does not know what possessed him in driving like this that night" and says "It's the sorriest mistake that he has ever made" and he has since struggled with intense guilt. He says "the events of that night have changed him completely" and the judge said he accepts the genuineness of his remorse.
Mr Mongan's partner in her letter to the court said he might not have know Seif Eddine Boudisa "but he has grieved for him since", while his mother Philomena had outlined in her letter how her son was good person who is always willing to help others and "He has lost all happiness and joy" and described him as "a prisoner in his own mind" since the collision.
Judge Hayes said "This is very serious offending in which a young man who came to this country for better opportunities needlessly lost his life and another young man sustained serious injuries that continue to have an impact on his life - it was caused by the accused driving at hugely excessive speed."
The judge continued that it is a "single factor case of speeding in an urban, built-up residential area" and the evidence does not go so far as to say that the defendant was racing at the time of the collision "although he had been doing so very shortly beforehand".
He imposed a sentence of four years and three months with the final 15 months suspended, back dated to June fifth when he was remanded in custody, along with a 10 year driving disqualification.