The grandmother of a six-weekold baby killed in a traffic accident pleaded yesterday for the motorist who killed him not to go to jail.
In Dundalk Circuit Court, Fabian Kerley (29), of Corcreaghy, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Michael Connolly and to drink-driving. Both offences happened at Knockcor, Dundalk on March 31st last year.
The court heard that Kerley had been drinking with his cousin and that she was to drive home, but after a distance she was not happy driving and he had taken over. His cousin had since died in a motorcycle accident.
He had just overtaken another vehicle and was on the wrong side of the road when he collided with a car carrying the infant Michael Connolly. Also in the car were the baby's grandmother, Mrs Mary Connolly, who was driving, and her daughter Deborah, who was in the front seat.
State prosecutor Mr Roderick O'Hanlon said that Ms Deborah Connolly, who was carrying Michael in her arms, was eight months pregnant. She was cut from the car and taken to hospital where she had a caesarean section. Because of the pregnancy she was not wearing a seat belt. Her surgeon said that if she had been she could have lost her child.
Garda Richard Sheehy said baby Michael, of Anne Street, Dundalk, died either in the ambulance or shortly after arriving in hospital.
He said he knew the defendant before the accident and he had never been in trouble. There was talk of another car, but it was never traced. A blood sample taken from the defendant in hospital had a blood/alcohol reading of 240.
Mr Hugh Mohan, defending, said his client was riven with remorse. He accepted responsibility for the accident and was receiving counselling to deal with his feelings of guilt. In court, the baby's grandmother, Mrs Mary Connolly, pleaded with the judge for leniency, saying she had forgiven Fabian Kerley and neither she nor the Connolly family wanted him to go to jail. The defendant told the court he was ashamed of what he had done and would never forget it. He would never drink and drive again. Judge Raymond Groarke said it was a difficult case. Save for the plea of the grandmother of the deceased on behalf of the family he would have imposed a very long sentence. The judge remanded Kerley in custody for sentencing on July 21st.