This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7972599.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Nine years for death crash driver | Nine years for death crash driver |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man has been jailed for nine years for causing death by dangerous driving. | A man has been jailed for nine years for causing death by dangerous driving. |
| Thomas O'Brien, 30, of Muckross Road, Kesh, had been drinking in a pub in County Fermanagh on Christmas Eve 2005. | Thomas O'Brien, 30, of Muckross Road, Kesh, had been drinking in a pub in County Fermanagh on Christmas Eve 2005. |
| He later lost control of his car on a bend and a passenger, Paul Flanagan, 36, was killed. Two other people were seriously injured. | He later lost control of his car on a bend and a passenger, Paul Flanagan, 36, was killed. Two other people were seriously injured. |
| O'Brien also got a year's probation and 20-year driving ban. The judge said it was one of the worst cases of driving he had encountered. | O'Brien also got a year's probation and 20-year driving ban. The judge said it was one of the worst cases of driving he had encountered. |
| Dungannon Crown Court heard that O'Brien drove away from the accident in another car before the emergency services had arrived. He fled the country until December 2008. | Dungannon Crown Court heard that O'Brien drove away from the accident in another car before the emergency services had arrived. He fled the country until December 2008. |
| The court heard that O'Brien had been convicted of driving whilst disqualified less than two months prior to the accident in October, 2005. | The court heard that O'Brien had been convicted of driving whilst disqualified less than two months prior to the accident in October, 2005. |
| 'Cider and vodka' | |
| During his disqualification and suspended sentence period O'Brien bought the car he was driving on Christmas Eve when he caused the accident. | During his disqualification and suspended sentence period O'Brien bought the car he was driving on Christmas Eve when he caused the accident. |
| The court heard that statements given by staff and customers suggested O'Brien had consumed at least 10 drinks of cider and vodka, followed by some shots of Goldschlagger. | The court heard that statements given by staff and customers suggested O'Brien had consumed at least 10 drinks of cider and vodka, followed by some shots of Goldschlagger. |
| Judge David McFarland said he took into account the fact that Thomas O'Brien had pleaded guilty after nearly three years. | Judge David McFarland said he took into account the fact that Thomas O'Brien had pleaded guilty after nearly three years. |
| He said this had brought some comfort to the family and witnesses who did not have to endure a lengthy trial or give evidence in court. | He said this had brought some comfort to the family and witnesses who did not have to endure a lengthy trial or give evidence in court. |
| The judge said that Paul Flanagan's death had had an impact on the defendant and reinforced the evidence of his remorse. | The judge said that Paul Flanagan's death had had an impact on the defendant and reinforced the evidence of his remorse. |