A 38-year-old Co Clare woman who pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing death, escaped a prison sentence but was disqualified from driving for 15 years at Ennis Circuit Court yesterday.
Teresa Naughton, Inis Ealga, Shannon, had pleaded guilty to the charge following an incident where she knocked down and killed a 45-year-old father of one in June 2003. Naughton's car struck Danny Glynn, Cill Cais, Shannon, as he walked home after a night out. Naughton failed to stop at the scene and her car dragged Mr Glynn's body along the road for a considerable distance.
The court heard that at 2.05am on June 29th, 2003, Danny Glynn left the nightclub at the Shannon Knights in the town. The victim was walking along Tullyglass Road when he was struck by Naughton's car. His body was pushed along the road, beneath the car for a distance of 0.8 of a mile where it became dislodged near Cronin Gardens. Mr Glynn's body was discovered by a number of people at 2.17am.
Supt John Kerin gave evidence that "the body was in a very bad state and that a trail of blood and human tissue had stretched back the road for 0.8 of a mile."
An extensive search of the scene discovered fragments of a car and a Renault sign. The court heard that Naughton drove a Renault Megane.
Naughton went voluntarily to Shannon Garda station later that morning where she made a statement which was corroborated by her partner.
The court was also told however that "her statement was not borne out by the conclusions of the Garda investigation". Evidence was given that after striking the victim, Naughton stopped 52m from the point of impact but then continued through three junctions without stopping. Supt Kerin also told how telephone records revealed that after she arrived home at 2.30am, there was a "series of phone calls to her partner and relations". A meeting was also alleged to have taken place in her house before Naughton went to the Garda station that morning.
Maurice Glynn, a brother of the deceased, said he could not believe how someone could have such little regard for human life. "You knew and worked with my brother and you never even apologised," he said.
Brendan Nix, counsel for Naughton, said "my client will go to her grave telling me that she, as incredible as it may seem, did not know she was carrying that poor man's body under her car. Feeling guilty is part of her torment and she has to live with forever being known as the woman who caused the death of this unfortunate man."
Judge Carroll Moran said the Garda investigation found that Naughton was not drunk, was not speeding and her car was in good mechanical condition. He imposed a three-year suspended prison sentence and disqualified Naughton from driving for 15 years.