A grand-son’s Sunday drive treat for his granny ended in tragedy after the car the man was driving crashed resulting in the death of his 73- year old grand-mother
At Ennis District Court, Connor Wright (32) of Pella Rd, Kilrush, Co Clare pleaded guilty to drink driving at Ballinagun West, Cree in west Clare on June 18th last when he crashed the car at 9.10pm and back seat passenger and his grand-mother Margaret Wright died.
Judge Alec Gabbett has imposed a two year mandatory driving ban after the construction worker was found to be driving over the alcohol limit at the time.
Judge Gabbett commented “it is a very, very tragic situation where someone has to live with this for the rest of their life”.
Judge Gabbett said that Mr Wright’s alcohol reading “was not a particularly high reading” but comes into the mandatory two year driving ban range.
Judge Gabbett commented: “It is a significant penalty.”
Solicitor, Joe Chambers told the court that his client was very close to his grand-mother.
He said that Mr Wright “wasn’t feeling well on this Sunday but he still wanted to treat his granny to a day out driving around west Clare”.
Garda Cyril Paige told the court that Margaret Wright wasn’t wearing a seat-belt at the time of impact and Mr Wright and his girl-friend who were both sitting in front were wearing their seat belts.
Mr Chambers said that Mr Wright banged his head off the window and he sustained a cut to his head while his girlfriend was unscathed from the crash.
Garda Paige said that Mr Wright failed a roadside breath test.
At the station, Garda Paige said that Mr Wright’s test showed that he had 142 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of urine.
Mr Chambers said that Mr Wright has no previous convictions “and has not even got three points on his licence”.
Garda Paige said that Mr Wright told Gardai that he had one pint of Guinness in O’Doherty’s pub in Cooraclare and one earlier that day.
He said that the three went in Mr Wright’s car to get a take away at Cree and on their way back to Cooraclare, Mr Wright lost control of the car and it collided with a verge, spun across the road and came to a stop towards the direction of Cree.
Mr Wright was charged with drink driving and a frustration charge under the Road Traffic Act that was withdrawn after the guilty plea was entered to the drink driving charge.
Mr Wright did not face a careless driving or dangerous driving causing death charge from the fatal crash.
Mr Chambers said that there was no element of speed or suggestion of speed in the crash which he said occurred on quite a narrow stretch of road where there is no room for error.
Mr Chambers said that from the get-go his client had told Gardai that an animal had come onto the road and he had to take evasive action.
Mr Chambers said that his client has worked since he was 14 and works in construction.
Mr Chambers said that a witness in the takeaway got a smell of alcohol from Mr Wright’s girlfriend but not from Mr Wright. He said: “There is no question of him being drunk on the night.”
Mr Chambers said his client “has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He was very vulnerable and remains vulnerable and remorse is a very strong force”.
Judge Gabbett postponed the two year ban to September 1st to allow Mr Wright “to organise a few things” following an application from Mr Chambers.
