This teen has appeared in court charged with dangerous driving in relation to an incident in which 14 year-old Sophie Caulfield later died.
Martin McCarthy (19) appeared before a sitting of Wexford District Court charged with nine separate offences, and was further arrested over failing to sign on at his local Garda station.
Mr McCarthy of Oaktree Avenue, Enniscorthy in Co Wexford is charged with failing to stop a vehicle he was driving after it was involved in injuring Sophie at Sheastown, Wellingtonbridge on July 8.
Sophie, who was from New Ross, subsequently died nine days later in Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin.
Mr McCarthy is further accused of dangerously driving the same vehicle in the same location by using excessive speed, and of failing to stop the vehicle after two other people were injured in the course of the incident.
Sophie’s parents, Paula O’Connor and Derek Caulfield, leaving Wexford Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon. Photo: Jim Campbell.
Martin McCarthy leaves Wexford Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon. Photo: Jim Campbell.
He is also charged with the theft of a second vehicle at Whittys Hill, Wellingtonbridge in Wexford on the same date, and with dangerously driving that vehicle at Boolabawn Glynn and at Kyle Cross Wexford.
Mr McCarthy is further charged with damaging another vehicle while driving the alleged stolen vehicle on the same date at Boolabawn Glynn in Wexford.
Sophie Caulfield who died in hospital after a crash in Wexford.
Parents of Sophie Caulfield in their home in New Ross, Co Wexford(Image: Jim Campbell Photography)
And he is accused of driving that vehicle without insurance.
A Garda gave evidence before Judge John Cheatle that he executed an arrest warrant on Mr McCarthy at the courthouse at 11:25 am this morning.
The Garda told the court he was arresting the accused for failing to sign on for two months and six days—a condition of his bail granted at a first court appearance in Carlow District Court.
The court was further told that the matter of the nine other charges was back before the court today for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Mr McCarthy did not have a solicitor present in court because she was “on strike in Dublin,” his mother told Judge Cheatle.
She further told the Judge that her son had been in hospital and that she had doctor’s notes to explain his absence at the Garda station.
Martin McCarthy.
“He was in hospital. He had a couple of surgeries,” she said.
Mr McCarthy affirmed to the Judge that he was now back in good health and would sign on “every day” from now on.
Judge Cheatle said he was reluctant to cancel the accused’s bail because he did not have a solicitor present and stated he would prefer to give him a warning to adhere to his bail conditions or he would be arrested again.
The matter was then adjourned to December 8 when the court will hear the DPP’s directions in the case.
The scene where Sophie Caulfield was fatally injured in a road traffic collision near Bannow, Co Wexford on July 8(Image: Jim Campbell)
Sophie’s parents Paula and Derek have spoken of their heartache following their daughter’s tragic death(Image: Jim Campbell Photography)
Sophie Caulfield’s parents Paula and Derek were present in court for the proceedings on Tuesday morning.
The court appearance came after Sophie’s parents previously told this paper of their grief.
Unbeknownst to Paula, her 14-year-old daughter Sophie left her home in New Ross, Co Wexford in the early hours of the morning of July 8.
Paula recounted last seeing her daughter enjoying a sleepover with her friend in the downstairs room of their home – and there was no hint that they were planning to leave.
“I got up to go to the toilet at about half four and I could hear giggling. They were downstairs. They had their pyjamas on and Sophie said ‘Mammy I’m going up in a minute.’
“So I went back up to bed and I got up around 7:15 am and checked her room. She wasn’t there and when I went downstairs, the sitting room window was open.
“Then I rang her and the guards answered.”
Paula’s worst nightmare then unfolded as gardai explained to her that her daughter had been taken to hospital after being in a car crash.
“I can still see myself and my son Cian standing there. I was ringing Derek and he was on his way to work and I was just holding on to the sink. When the guard said internal bleeding it was just a nightmare. But I didn’t think it was to the extent I was going to see.”
Sophie never told her mother or father that she was meeting anyone, and they had no indication that anything was wrong before the tragedy occurred.
“She had her pyjamas on and no makeup on or anything. So you’re not thinking she’s going to go out like. Sophie loved her image. If she was going out anywhere she would be all dressed up. It was completely out of character for her to go out like this at 5:30 am,” Paula said.
In those first few hours the parents said they weren’t even thinking about how this had happened – focusing only on their daughter’s survival.
“All I knew at that time was she was in a car crash and so all I was thinking about was Sophie. Even up in Temple Street Hospital I didn’t think of cars or other people. I was just focusing on her. You just can’t think of anything else. Your daughter is in there fighting for her life.
“It’s when I came home and got over the funeral I was thinking how did this happen.”
As the parents rushed to Wexford General Hospital, doctors explained the severity of the situation.
“They brought us into a small room, and he told us that her spleen, her brain injury, and that she was very, very, very ill. They let me go in and identify her to make sure it was Sophie.
“I’ll never forget it,” Derek added. “It was absolutely terrible. “It was absolutely terrible.
“She hadn’t got much damage to her face. She had a broken jaw and a broken eye socket,” Paula said. “Her hip went up into her pelvis. Her lungs collapsed and her ribs were broken.
“But looking at her lying there, lifeless – she was bloated. You could only tell by her eyes and her hair that it was Sophie.”
The next few days were devastating for the parents as they followed their daughter to Temple Street Children’s Hospital and ultimately made the harrowing decision to switch off her life support.
“I can’t even remember going in the doors. It was just a complete and utter shock,” Paula said.
Derek added: “I was hoping that she was going to pull through. We held on to hope; I can’t remember parts of it either. We were staying awake for two days, not sleeping and just holding Sophie’s hand.”
“As her mother I had an instinct when I saw her in Wexford Hospital. But I did hold on to hope as well,” Paula said. “But in my gut I kind of knew.”
Eight days into her care Sophie suffered a stroke – adding to the devastating injuries she had already sustained.
“And after that, when she had the stroke, maybe the other side of the brain was damaged from the car accident. She was completely brain dead,” Derek said.
Sophie’s younger sister, Michaela, and older brother, Cian, were then brought in to say their goodbyes.
“We prayed and prayed but our prayers weren’t answered.”
Careworker Paula said she visits her daughter’s grave on her way to work – and often sees many of her young friends there.
“I go up to the graveyard and there could be 20 children. And that’s every day. They’re just sitting there talking. They miss her. It took a lot out of everyone. I do feel for all her friends. They’re so upset.”
“We are living a nightmare,” Derek added.
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