A 23-year-old Limerick man accused of dangerous driving causing the death of a Kerry lorry driver had visited three pubs and a hotel bar on the night of the alleged offence and smelled of alcohol, according to an ambulance worker who assisted him at the scene of the fatal collision, a court has heard.
John Wilmott, Blossom Hill, Rathkeale, Co Limerick, denies dangerous driving causing the death of David Power, Kilflynn, Co Kerry, on June 10th, 2004, at Garryduff Cross, Newcastlewest, Co Limerick.
A 34-year-old lorry driver, Mr Power, died after a car being driven by the accused collided with the diesel tank of his 15- metre truck shortly before midnight, at a well-known Co Limerick accident black spot, a jury at Limerick Circuit Court was told.
In a statement to gardaí after the collision, Mr Wilmott, said he drank a pint of Guinness, a pint of Heineken shandy and a small amount of a second lager shandy on the night.
The court heard that he had finished up his job at a hardware shop in Rathkeale on June 10th, 2004, and had gone out with a couple of colleagues to mark the occasion. Mr Wilmott told gardaí that it was "not a session" as his colleagues had work the following morning.
The jury heard evidence yesterday from bar staff of various pubs in Rathkeale which the accused visited with his friends.
Three witnesses gave evidence of serving several rounds of "baby Guinness" drinks to the men, which the jury was told consisted of a shot of Tia Maria with a Bailey's head.
Evidence was heard from one barmaid that the accused and his friends consumed four drinks each, but didn't seem drunk when they left.
The jury also heard a statement by James Dooley, an emergency medical technician with the Mid-Western Health Board, who arrived at the scene of the collision shortly after midnight.
Mr Dooley said he noticed a smell of alcohol from the accused when he was about to administer pain relief to him for an arm injury. The ambulance worker said he asked Mr Wilmott if he had been drinking and he replied, "one or two pints".