A 22-year-old man, who was almost three times the legal alcohol limit, has been sentenced to four years in prison for dangerous driving causing the deaths of two of his college friends in Co Limerick two years ago.
Patrick Carroll, with an address at Drinagh Fivealley, Birr, Co Offaly, crashed a car into a wall on the N69 in Co Limerick two years ago, killing 20-year-old Darragh Dullea from Clonakilty, Co Cork, and 19-year-old Cillian Kirwan from Piltown, Co Kilkenny.
Judge Simon McAleese said Carroll’s action had caused “a blizzard of tragic consequences” on the families of the deceased, and on his own life.
The young men were all travelling in the same car along with a fourth man at the time of the fatal collision.
Carroll and the third passenger were treated in hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
They were friends and fellow students attending the Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, studying for a higher certificate in agricultural mechanisation.
During a sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court earlier this week, Inspector Padraig Sutton of Henry Street Garda Station outlined the movements of the students in the hours before the collision on 20 February 2024.
Cillian Kirwan (left) and Darragh Dullea were killed in the crash in February 2024
Insp Sutton told the court that the students had attended a lecture at TUS in Limerick city, and on their way back to Pallaskenry they frequented two pubs, De Bucket and The Dromore Inn, in Kildimo, between 4pm and 7pm.
CCTV footage of Carroll driving a 2010-registered Volkswagen Jetta arriving at both pubs was shown to the court.
The court heard that Cillian Kirwan joined his friends at The Dromore Inn.
Shortly after leaving the pub, the car being driven by Carroll crossed to the other side of the road and crashed into a wall and a pier of a farmhouse at Ballyengland near Askeaton at around 7.20pm.
Insp Sutton told the court that Darragh Dullea and Cillian Kirwan were killed instantly.
Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by Brendan Gill, State solicitor for Co Limerick, told the court that Carroll was driving with an alcohol level almost three times the legal limit.
Ms Buckley said the driver and passengers were all wearing seatbelts and while there were airbags in the vehicle, they were not sufficient to save the occupants.
The court heard that two women who came upon the collision in its aftermath, described seeing Carroll crying and calling on his friends to “wake up”.
The court was told that Carroll made admissions of guilt at the scene and again while being questioned by gardaí.
Carroll told gardaí: “I made a terrible mistake that day and will live with the shame of this for the rest of my life.”
Cillian Kirwan’s mother, Sinead Molloy, said her heart was broken since the death of her son.
In a victim impact statement, she said Cillian was killed in such a senseless manner, and she hoped he did not suffer.
“We cannot find the strength to forgive,” she told the court.
The family of Darragh Dullea described him as their pride and joy.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, they said they are greeted by tremendous grief every day.
Brian McInerney, SC, on behalf of Carroll said he is deeply remorseful for his actions that resulted in the deaths of his two friends.
“He accepts responsibility for his actions and the hurt that has been and will continue to be felt by the families of the deceased,” Mr McInerney said.
The defence barrister told the court that Carroll has written letters to the families if they choose to read them at some point in the future.
Mr McInerney said Carroll was fully cooperative with the garda investigation and pleaded guilty to the offences at the earliest possible opportunity.
Three character references on behalf of Carroll were also read to the court.
In sentencing him, Judge McAleese took into account aggravating factors including that he knowingly exposed his passengers to death or serious injury.
He also noted the victim impact statements which he said were delivered with understated strength and dignity.
The judge took into account Carroll’s guilty plea at the earliest possible juncture, his manifest contrition and his previous good character.
He also took into account a probation report which said Carroll has no intention of drinking again in the future.
The judge accepted Carroll’s genuine remorse, as well as his youth and relative immaturity at the time of the collision. He was 19 years old.
Referring to the carnage on Ireland’s roads caused by aggravated dangerous driving, Judge McAleese said perpetrators must learn that they will face custodial sentences, particularly young men.
He sentenced Carroll to four years in prison and disqualified him from driving for eight years.