A FATHER OF three who fell asleep when returning home from his daughter’s birthday party and crashed into an oncoming car was yesterday given a three-year suspended sentence for dangerous driving causing the death of the other driver.
Damien Hynes (41), Sarsfield Casey Drive in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Ciara O’Brien (26) on the old N8 at Cloonlough, just south of Mitchelstown on April 25th, 2009.
Yesterday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Hynes expressed his remorse for the crash.
“I just want to say how desperately sorry I am for what happened, I am devastated for Ciara’s family and her boyfriend,” Mr Hynes said.
Sgt Gerry Quinn, who investigated the crash which happened at 6.20pm, said driving conditions were good at the time and there was no mechanical fault in the vehicle. Neither speed nor drink were factors, he said.
Sgt Quinn said Hynes had co-operated with gardaí but couldn’t remember anything about the collision.
