A motorist who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a Dublin mother of three was yesterday given a suspended sentence of eight years, disqualified from driving for 10 years, and bound to keep the peace for five years. Alessandro Antonelli (23), from Florence, Italy, was the driver of a Fiat Punto which collided with a Mercedes near Arklow, Co Wicklow on August 26th last year.
The accident caused the death of the front-seat passenger in the Mercedes, Ms Cora Hallinan (36), Templeogue, Dublin. Antonelli's best friend, Mr Guido Ravalli (22), who was a front-seat passenger in the Punto, also died at the scene.
Garda Martin Kavanagh told Wicklow Circuit Court that Mr Padraig Hallinan was travelling from Wexford to Dublin with his wife and three children when he suddenly saw a white car in his path. The impact was instantaneous. The Mercedes overturned, his wife was killed instantly and Mr Ravalli died at the scene.
Witnesses said the Punto was passing out a line of cars at speed when the accident happened. Through an interpreter, Antonelli denied overtaking a line of cars or travelling at speed. He said he was extremely sorry and his apology would be "never-ending".
Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, defending, said there had been a number of accidents in that vicinity over the years and that the road appeared to be straight but had "a kinky bend". Judge Raymond Groarke said it was quite obvious that the accident occurred because the defendant was overtaking a line of traffic at speed.