JURORS IN the trial of a man who is charged in connection with the deaths of a Co Limerick garda and a firefighter, who were killed while attending the scene of an another crash, will today retire to consider a verdict after three weeks of evidence.
At Limerick Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, Niall Shannon (21), Lenamore, Ballylongford, Co Kerry, denies dangerous driving causing the death of Garda Brian Kelleher and firefighter Michael Liston at Barrigone Askeaton, Co Limerick, on February 25th, 2007.
Shannon has already been convicted of driving with excess alcohol on the night of the fatal collision.
In his closing address to the jury, Anthony Sammon SC, defending, described the location of the crash as a “ferocious trap”. His client had driven 20 miles from his home in Co Kerry without incident before he arrived at the scene of the crash which was not “adequately safeguarded”.
Earlier yesterday a man who drove a doctor to the scene claimed it was a “frightening experience” to try and stop his car safely when they came up on the scene of the crash.
Michael Moroney, a driver with the Shannon Doc service and a witness for the defence, told the court that he did not see any advance warning signs as he approached the scene of the crash.
He claimed the first time he realised he had reached the scene was when he saw a recovery truck parked at a 45-degree angle across the road.
Mr Moroney told the jury that Dr Rodwell Van Heerdan, the doctor he was driving to the scene, said: “Mike you’ll never stop this car” as they approached the crash scene.
“It was a frightening experience to see this truck immediately in front of you and think how are you going to stop without going underneath it,” said Mr Moroney.
Mr Moroney admitted under cross-examination by John O’Kelly SC, prosecuting, that he did see flashing lights on the recovery truck and on the fire tender at the scene of the crash.