Life of car crash garda's family 'ruined' by death

The death of Garda Anthony Tighe in a car crash has ruined the life of his four children, his widow told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today.

A weeping Mrs Irene Tighe told of her own loneliness and how Garda Tighe's mother "has been devastated" by the 54-year-old's death. Garda Michael Padden (27) died in the same crash.

She was giving a victim impact statement to the court prior to the sentencing of  Raymond Dowdall for causing the death of the two gardaí when the stolen sports car he was driving rammed into their patrol car.

Mrs Tighe, accompanied by one of her sons, broke down and wept while giving evidence in court. She was not alone. In a crowed Court Number 8, a number of relatives and colleagues of the dead gardaí were crying as details of the events leading up to the two garda's deaths unfolded.

The court heard how Dowdall and an accomplice stole a black Mazda MX5 and went on an extended joyride through  the city on the early hours of April 14th, 2002.

The Mazda was doing almost 100 mph when it stuck the passenger side of Garda Tighe and Garda Padden's squad car, throwing it up into the air causing it to somersault and killing both gardaí instantly.

Detective Inspector Martin Cummins, the principle investigating officer, said there were no skid marks or signs of brakes being applied.

Ms Justine Reilly, a first cousin of Garda Padden told the court no words can describe the devastation caused by Michael's death. "His life was taken in a split second by two youths who had no second thought for their actions."

Mr Peter Finaly SC, for the accused, said very little could be said on behalf of Raymond. He read a letter to the court in which Dowdall stated that he "is indeed sorry for what he has done, although he doesn't expect it to matter much but he wants it to be known by the two families".

The court heard that the accused did not score highly in tests for aptitude or intelligence. Dowdall has 42 previous convictions, many for traffic related offences and was banned from driving at the time of the fatal crash. Relatives of the accused were also in court today.

Judge Desmond Hogan said Dowdall's  driving on the night of the crash "was a criminal act of bravado with terrible consequences".

He sentenced Dowdall to six years for reckless endangerment, eight years for the charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Garda Padden and eight years for dangerous driving causing the death of Garda Tighe. He also banned Dowdall from driving for 30 years. The sentences will run concurrently and start from the date of his remand on April 14th 2002.