A jury in a trial which heard how a young motorist had been killed when his car collided with a steel signpost has acquitted a man of the charge of dangerous driving causing death.
At Galway Circuit Criminal Court last week 20-year-old Darragh McGuigan with an address at 20 Greenfields Road, Newcastle, Galway, denied the charge of dangerous driving causing the death of 19-year-old Patrick Browne, of 10 Dangan Court, Greenfields, Galway, at Sean Mulvoy Road on December 12, 2008.
The trial heard how a Honda Civic, driven by the deceased, and a Toyota Trueno, driven by the accused, had taken an exit off Bodkin roundabout for Sean Mulvoy Road. At around 8.30am the two speeding cars were seen by witnesses weaving in and out of traffic and then side by side before they lost control. The Honda Civic was almost cut in two after slamming and embedding itself into a large signpost. The Toyota Trueno crossed the central median, onto the opposite road, and collided with an oncoming Fiat Marea driven by Peter Walsh.
One witness, Sarah Kenny, spoke of how she was nearly crushed by the out-of-control Honda Civic. Ms Kenny had just reached the ESB offices when she saw the Honda Civic “wobbling” and hitting the other car, clipping the back of it. The two cars started spinning and then the Honda Civic came towards her. Ms Kenny described how she jumped into a stairwell and could feel bits of the car coming down on top of her.
The court also heard how the conditions on that morning had been very wet and how McGuigan had been adament when questioned by gardai at the scene that he had not been racing with Mr Browne.
After deliberating on the evidence the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
