A Kildare truck driver who was due to be married in two months has been jailed for dangerous driving causing death. James O'Connor, of The Woodhouse, Ard Scoil, Athy, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of John Ward, Lynch's Lane, Balgaddy, on March 29th, 1997.
O'Connor (33) was jailed for 28 months and disqualified from driving for 12 years by Judge Dominic Lynch at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sgt Colm Finn told Mr George Bermingham, prosecuting, that O'Connor drove very fast through a traffic light at Con Colbert Road, Ballyfermot, and struck the 67-year-old married victim, killing him instantly. He agreed with Mr Roderick O'Hanlon, defending, that O'Connor came from a respectable background and had no previous convictions. He admitted at the scene that he was the truck driver.
Judge Lynch said he had no option but to jail O'Connor because of the death of a man in this accident. It appeared to him there was no way he could suspend the sentence, despite the plea by Mr O'Hanlon. He was mindful of the fact that O'Connor was due to be married in two months and that the killing of the victim was not premeditated, but he was still driving too fast.