A motorist who drove through a red light and crashed into another car - killing a young man and seriously injuring his girlfriend - has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Before Trim Circuit Court was businessman Michael Laheen (60), Menlough, Ballinasloe, Co Galway. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing serious bodily injury.
He was on his way to Dublin airport when he drove his Mercedes car through the red light at the Johnstown Bridge junction on the Enfield ring road.
The collision happened just after 9am on November 6th, 2005, and the deceased, John Larkin of Castlelawns, Summerhill, Co Meath, was a passenger in a Mitsubishi Colt car driven by Clare Noone. The couple had been living together.
The court heard Ms Noone suffered brain damage and now requires around-the-clock care. Mr Larkin died within hours of the crash.
To this day, the injured woman does not know her boyfriend is dead, the court was told.
Witnesses told gardaí the Mercedes had "continued through a red light and collided with the car". It had been travelling at around 60 km/h.
In his statement to gardaí, Laheen said he thought the lights were orange and when he saw the other car "it was too late".
When asked if he had engaged his brakes, he told the gardaí, "I'd say I did, I'm not sure".
Ms Noone, who was a legal secretary, now needs 24-hour care.
"She can respond to her parents and family and is aware she was in an accident. She is not aware John was killed," said the investigating garda, Sgt Robert Harrison.
In evidence to the court, the accused said: "I am so sorry for what happened, my intention was not to harm anybody."
He said his marriage has broken up as a result and medical evidence was given that he may be developing cancer. He still suffers from nightmares and relives the crash every day, his doctor said.
He operated a painting and decorating business which his family now runs; he had also been involved in property.
Judge Michael O'Shea said it was "one of the most tragic and horrific cases I've dealt with. I'm conscious that whatever I do, that sentencing must be appropriate and can never be revenge".
He imposed a 3-year jail sentence and suspended it, on condition that Laheen enter a good behaviour bond for four years. He disqualified him from holding a driving licence for 10 years and ordered that his licence be endorsed.
Conor Noone, brother of Clare Noone, said the family were disappointed with the suspended sentence.
Speaking on RTÉ's Liveline, he said the judge did not send out the right message with his sentence. "That man basically walked out of the court yesterday laughing to himself, as far as I'm concerned, because he hasn't been punished in any kind of way," he said. "He is a man of mid-age; he has a family of his own, he should be thinking - you would think he'd be thinking - he needs to be careful on the roads."