An alcoholic who admitted killing a pensioner in a road accident just 24 hours after he had been convicted of drink driving has been jailed for three years.
John Hogan (43), Bushy Park, Ennis, Co Clare, appeared yesterday at Limerick Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of John Cahill (68) at Clarecastle, Co Clare, on November 5th, 2004. The victim was from Gort, Co Galway.
Hogan also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of an intoxicant and failing to provide a blood or urine sample on the same date.
Limerick Circuit Court heard yesterday that Hogan's van crossed a continuous double white line on the main Ennis to Limerick Road at Clarecastle and ploughed into Mr Cahill's car at about 10.30pm. The victim, who was travelling alone, died from multiple head injuries.
A car travelling behind him had to take evasive action to avoid the crash.
Supt John Kerin of Ennis Garda station gave evidence that Hogan had engaged in a 12-hour drinking binge which started earlier that morning after he picked up a friend at Shannon airport.
After having a drink at the airport, they went to a hotel in Ennis and drank beer and glasses of brandy until 3.30pm. Security camera footage from the hotel showed Hogan twice falling as he waited for a taxi in the lobby.
Hogan conceded that he was drunk and had been drinking all day, the court heard.
The binge continued throughout the afternoon and evening, and included the purchase of 12 cans of beer which were consumed in a flat.
Later Hogan and his friend returned to the hotel. Along the way they bought 20 bottles of beer and a small bottle of vodka, which they drank in his friend's hotel bedroom.
Shortly after 10pm, Hogan climbed into his van. Evidence was heard that when he drove into the Statoil service station opposite the hotel he knocked over part of a wall and drove over one of the petrol pump islands.
Supt Kerin said Hogan was spotted weaving in and out of the slow lane on the main Ennis-Limerick road moments before the fatal accident.
Further evidence was heard that the accused, a self-employed carpenter, had been disqualified from driving for two years for a drink-driving offence at Limerick District Court the day before the accident. However, that disqualification was not due to come into effect until February 1st, 2005.
Judge Carroll Moran said the case was one of the worst cases of death by dangerous driving that he had ever heard. Offering his condolences to the family of the victim, he said he had to take into account Hogan's guilty plea and the fact that he had shown some remorse in court.
He jailed him for three years and disqualified him from driving for 30 years. Leave to appeal was refused.