The deaths of two teenagers who were knocked down by a stolen car which was driven at speeds of up to 100 m.p.h. on the north side of Cork city on St Patrick's Day 1997 was recalled in the Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
David Todd (20), of St Michael's Road, Farranree, Cork pleaded guilty to two manslaughter charges before Judge Patrick Moran. He admitted unlawfully killing Trevor O'Connell (17) on March 17th, 1997, and Stephen Kirby (17), who died in Cork University Hospital after his life support machine was turned off on March 20th.
The two youths were friends and lived in Parklands, Commons Road. They were walking to the local chip shop at about 10 p.m. when the stolen car, which had no brakes or lights, crashed into a wall at The Commons, Fairfield, and struck both.
Coincidentally the inquests into both deaths opened yesterday in another section of the courthouse in Cork. Evidence of identification and of the injuries the teenagers suffered was given. The proceedings were then adjourned to a later date because of the criminal case.
In court, Det Garda Con O'Sullivan said a car was stolen in Liberty Street in Cork by a number of youths who drove it around the Fairhill area in an erratic manner. Gardai were notified, and a patrol car was dispatched.
Todd in his statement said he did not realise he had struck anyone, but when he heard the Garda cars and the ambulances at the scene he knew someone had been hurt. After being told by his stepfather that Trevor O'Connell had been killed, he handed himself in to the Garda on March 18th.
Todd's case was adjourned until March 5th for probation and other reports.