Five years for man whose driving caused cousin's death
A man who drove at speeds of up to 160 kph under the influence of drugs and alcohol has been jailed for five years for dangerous driving causing the death of his 15-year-old cousin with whom he was reared.
Jimmy Connors (aged 24) snorted cocaine the day before he drove a stolen Toyota Yaris at speeds of between 140 - 160 kph after consuming a cocktail of marijuana, sleeping tablets and alcohol.
The married father of two had bought the Yaris for €4,000, knowing it was stolen.
Connors of Delatree, Ballycragh, Tallaght pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Edward Nash at the M1 southbound, Bealinstown flyover, Swords on June 13, 2006, and to driving a stolen vehicle.
Judge Patricia Ryan described the events as "tragic" and said she was taking into account Connor's 20 previous convictions, the fact that he was disqualified from driving at the time as well as the family background and expressions of remorse.
She imposed a sentence of five years imprisonment to run concurrent to a two-year sentence for burglary imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2006 that Connors is currently serving.
Garda Darragh Hynes told Ms Anne-Marie Lawlor BL, prosecuting, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that several eye witnesses saw the Yaris collide with a Honda Civic, spin into the air under the flyover bridge and land in a nearby field. The Honda was badly damaged by the impact but no one in it was injured.
Garda Heinz said a lorry driver travelling behind the Yaris saw Edward Nash, who was a front-seat passenger, come through the windscreen when the car went into a spin. His body was thrown over the bridge and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Defence counsel, Mr Erwan Mill Arden SC, told Judge Ryan that Connors was in a "distraught" state since the accident. He had been reared with Edward Nash and after the accident went "out of control on drugs" which resulted in a conviction for a later offence in 2006.
He said that Connors, who is married with two young children, had bought the Yaris the day before and knew it was stolen. He had been at a wedding the previous day where he took cocaine and on the fatal day had consumed several cans of alcohol.
He said that Connors had a troubled family background with an abusive alcoholic father who was now deceased. His mother spent time at a lady’s refuge because of this abuse and since his father’s death, Connor’s had taken on the responsibility of head of the family.
"He is a young man with a young family who desperately need him," Mr Mill Arden said.
