Teenager driving without insurance and licence causing serious injuries to passenger is jailed

A teenager whose careless driving while uninsured and without a licence caused his passenger serious injuries has been jailed for eight months, reports Fiona Ferguson.

Franklin Olukoya was 18-years-old when he lost control of the car he was driving. The car hit a low wall, spinning and landing on its side. His 17-year-old passenger broke her back in two places.

Olukoya, now aged 22 years old, of Castlegate Hall, Adamstown, Lucan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to careless driving causing serious harm and driving without insurance at Portmarnock in north Dublin on June 24, 2019. He has four previous convictions.

Passing sentence on Friday, Judge Martin Nolan said it seemed Olukoya had been driving somewhat too fast and lost control of his car, leaving his passenger with serious injuries.

He noted the charge had been reduced from dangerous driving causing serious harm to careless driving causing serious harm and that there was a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment.

He took into account the fact Olukoya had cooperated with the investigation and made some admissions.

He said the accused was a young man with underlying difficulties but –  noting the aggravating factors of driving without insurance or a driving licence – said he thought Olukoya deserved a custodial term.

Judge Nolan imposed an eight month sentence which he backdated to last November when the accused went into custody. He disqualified him from driving for four years.

Garda Oisin Howell told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that Olukoya was travelling along the coast road when he lost control of the vehicle, which collided with a low wall, spun in the air before landing on the driver side facing in the direction it had come from.

Gda Howell said the fire brigade had to release Olukoya from the car but his passenger managed to free herself before they were both taken to hospital.

The young woman, who was 17 at the time, was found to have broken her back in two places, fractured her thumb and suffered a contusion to her head. She has undergone surgery and still suffers pain while sitting or walking for a period. She continues to attend for physiotherapy.

Gda Howell said Olukoya admitted he had no licence or insurance.

He made a voluntary statement to gardai and told them he did not remember what had happened. He said he had epilepsy and may have had a fit at the time. He apologised during interview.

James Dwyer SC, defending, handed in a letter of apology from his client in which he said he was “truly deeply sorry” for what had happened and causing physical and psychological pain to the young woman. He said he was committed to doing everything in his power to put things right.

Counsel handed in letters from Olukoya’s partner and family describing his positive characteristics and involvement in his local mosque. He handed in reports to the court outlining that Olukoya had suffered seizures since the age of three and his diagnosis of attention deficit disorder.

He asked the court to have regard to his guilty plea, remorse, his youth and difficulties growing up.