A MAN charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of a Dublin mother and her son has escaped a custodial sentence.
Keith Cunningham (31) of Kilcolum, Co Waterford, was found guilty of careless driving but not guilty of dangerous driving causing death on April 10th, 2006.
Single mother Pamela Boylan (32) and her only child Thomas (9) of Fettercairn in Tallaght, were on their way home from a picnic when they were killed in the head-on crash at Ballymore Eustace.
They were pronounced dead at the scene. Keith Cunningham was driving the other vehicle and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The jury at Naas Circuit Court deliberated for just over an hour before returning a unanimous verdict finding Cunningham not guilty to dangerous driving causing death.
After the jury returned its verdict, Judge John O’Shea said, “This is a very tragic case for both families. These are difficult cases – when there is a death there is a tragedy,” he said.
Cunningham is to be sentenced on February 23rd, 2010.