A builder's labourer, Patrick Joseph Ryan (36), of William Street, Clonmel, was jailed for three years and was banned from driving for life in Waterford Circuit Court yesterday.
He had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, causing the death of Eleanor Cullinane (21), a nurse, of Coolfin, Portlaw, Co Waterford. Ms Cullinane was a front-seat passenger in a car which was stopped at traffic lights on the Cork Road, Waterford, on May 19th, 2001.
She received multiple injuries when the car was struck from behind by a car driven by Ryan.
Mr John Peart SC, for Ryan, said his client got bored and started drinking while waiting for his girlfriend, who had a 10-hour hairdressing appointment having her hair "extended".
During the afternoon he drank eight to nine pints and a number of shorts before he "blacked out".
In evidence, Ryan said that on several occasions he returned to the hairdressing salon and eventually had an argument with his girlfriend, Ms Regina Burns, who returned to Clonmel in a taxi, leaving him in Waterford with the keys of her car.
The next thing he remembered was the noise of the collision, which brought him to his senses and he fled the scene.
Since the accident he had been devastated and ashamed that he had killed a person and would live with it for the rest of his life.
The father of the victim, Mr Frank Cullinane, said that in a moment of lunacy he lost his daughter, who was a most wonderful person.