Two Cork teenagers found guilty in fatal road accident case
The jury in a trial relating to the death of two teenagers on the road in Knocknaheeny last May returned verdicts of guilty against both accused men this evening.
The jury spent about two and a half hours deliberating and then delivered their verdicts.
They found Philip Murphy (aged 40) of Killala Gardens, Knocknaheeny, and James Simms (aged 27) of Adelaide Terrace, Cork, both guilty on the charge of dangerous driving on Friday May 14 on Harbour View Road causing the death of CJ Dolan, 16, and Derry O’Callaghan, 19.
These were unanimous verdicts from the jury of eight men and three women at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. One of the jurors was discharged from the case during the trial which commenced on November 23.
Judge Patrick J. Moran thanked the jury for their diligence and the obvious attention that they had given to the case.
The judge adjourned sentencing of Simms and Murphy until 12 noon tomorrow. Both defendants were remanded in custody to appear again at Cork Circuit Criminal Court tomorrow.
The evidence in the trial was that Simms was driving a Ford Mondeo in which the two deceased were back-seat passengers. Murphy was driving a Volksgagen Golf 10 metres behind it as both cars travelled at up to 120 kms per hour on Harbour View Road before turning into Hollywood Estate at around 11.30pm that night.
There was evidence that the Mondeo lost some control on the corner and that afterwards it was struck from behind by the Golf causing the Mondeo to spin out of control. Both vehicles crashed into a wall of a house at Hollywood estate.
The two teenagers died as a result of their injuries.
