A MAN obsessed with cars who killed a six year old boy while driving an £80 "junker" at high speed on the wrong side of the road has been jailed for 31/2 years.
Damien Shields, of Moatview Gardens, Coolock, was pronounced dead shortly after being flung in the air and landing unconscious on the ground.
His sister, Christine (14), has been left mentally and physically disabled as a result of brain damage arising out of the same incident, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told yesterday.
Patrick Kavanagh (20), with an address at Belcamp Grove, Priorswood, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and serious injury on July 2nd, 1994.
Judge Cyril Kelly expressed his sympathy to the family of the victims and banned Kavanagh from driving for 20 years.
Judge Kelly said the maximum five years sentence was not open to him as the superior courts ruled that among matters to be taken into consideration were the defendant's guilty plea and previous relatively unblemished record.
But he said the accident "cut short one young life" and seriously injured "a 14 year old girl full of hope and aspiration in her teenage years".
Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh, prosecuting, said the children were struck by Kavanagh's car which was being driven on the wrong side of the road at about 70 mph on a slip road at Moatview Gardens.
Witnesses said the car did not sound its horn before the impact and when the scene was examined later, gardai did not find brake marks on the road, she said.
Counsel said the scene of the accident was a residential 30 mph zone. The victims were returning home with their 12 year old brother, James, at about 6 p.m., after a visit to their grandparents house nearby. The road was straight and conditions were good.
Damien was taken to Temple Street Hospital and attempts were made for 15 minutes to revive him but he was pronounced dead from spinal injuries.
Christine received critical head injuries and she was brought to Beaumont Hospital. She remained in hospital for a year before being released but has suffered mental and physical disablement as a result of brain damage, the court was told.
Det Garda Padraig Dennedy said Kavanagh's car came to a halt 70 feet after the impact and he went voluntarily with gardai to make a statement on being told Damien was dead. One of his passengers had fled the scene but another remained and later both also made statements.
The detective said Kavanagh agreed he did not have a licence or insurance and had bought the car the previous day for £80. He claimed he had tried to swerve to avoid the children and slammed on the brakes.
Det Garda Dennedy told Ms Ni Raifeartaigh that when the car was examined, the brakes were leaking fluid and defective. The inspector had found overall that the vehicle was in a "dangerously defective state".
Mr Fergal Foley, defending, said he had been asked to express his client's "sincere regret and apology" for the incident in which "one life was lost, one was destroyed and a number of others were affected".