An apprentice carpenter was sentenced to six months in prison at Galway District Court yesterday for dangerous driving which caused the death of a woman near Claregalway village, six miles from Galway, almost a year ago.
Michael Leonard (18), Knockdoe, Claregalway, had pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing to dangerous driving, causing the death of Ms Mary Dunleavy, at Peak, Claregalway, on October 20th last year. He also pleaded guilty to a drink driving offence on the same occasion.
A breath sample taken from the young motorist following the collision in which his car travelled in on the hard shoulder and collided with the rear of a parked car, showed a reading of 42 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of breath.
The court heard Leonard had been at a wedding earlier that day and was on his way home at the time of the accident.
Judge John Garavan said he had to impose a custodial sentence to bring home to the accused and to other drivers that they cannot drink and drive. He sentenced Leonard to six months detention for dangerous driving causing death and disqualified him from driving for ten years.