Tallaght man banned from driving for 15 years

By Brendan Grehan

A MAN who was involved in a car crash 11 years ago where a mother-of-five was fatally injured has been banned from driving for 15 years by Tallaght Court for driving while disqualified.

Jason Kearney, aged 45, with an address at Elm Grove, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, no insurance and no driving licence at the N81, Tallaght on November 20, 2016.

Presenting Sergeant Eithne Madden told Judge John Lindsay that on November 20 last there was a minor road traffic accident on the N81 and both drivers had been breathalysed by gardai. Kearney’s breath specimen produced a reading of 12mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath.

Sgt Madden said Kearney indicated at the scene that he did not have insurance and was disqualified from driving.

She said Kearney had 30 previous convictions including one for dangerous driving causing death.

On New Years Eve 2006, Mother-of-five Rose Martin (57) was a front-seat passenger in the car driven by her husband when a vehicle driven by Kearney crashed into it at Kilkerley, County Louth.

She died in hospital 11 days later. The impact pushed the Martins’ car into the ditch on the right hand side of the road and it bounced back into the road.

Kearney was also banned from driving for 10 years in 2013 for being drunk in charge of a vehicle.

Kearney’s solicitor, Michael Hennessy said his client fully co-operated with gardai and admitted at the scene that he was disqualified.

He asked the judge to distinguish this case, where both parties were breathalysed, from his previous “poor history”.

Mr Hennessy said the defendant is a father-of-three and his partner is currently pregnant.

He said Kearney is trying to make a new life for himself away from Dundalk and his past acquaintances.

The court also heard Kearney has a good work history, working most recently as an industrial painter.

Judge Lindsay disqualified Kearney from driving for 15 years and ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of three months in prison.