A bachelor farmer, left with “horrific” injuries after being hit by a jeep driven by a drunk driver, had been lying in a field for up to six hours before he was discovered, the Galway Circuit Criminal Court was told this week.
Patrick Lynch (65 ) had been walking along the roadway to his home at Caherlea, Corandulla, after a few pints in his local pub when he was struck by the Hyundai Santa Fe jeep driven by Marie Melia on August 3, 2008. Melia (40 ) who pleaded guilty to the charge of dangerous driving causing death earlier this year, appeared in court on Monday and was sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from driving for 12 years.
Detective Inspector Gerard Roche told the court that the victim had gone to the pub just after 6.30pm, had six pints, and had left at around 1.45am to walk home, taking the route that he took regularly. He said that when Mr Lynch was hit by the jeep he was thrown 20.2 metres from the roadway and that his shoes had been found in the adjacent field. The time of impact was placed at between 2am and 3am, though Det Insp Roche said that it was six hours later before Mr Lynch was found, seriously injured but still alive. The court heard that Mr Lynch passed away shortly after the ambulance arrived at the scene.
The court also heard that witnesses described Melia, who had been in two licensed premises that night including the one attended by Mr Lynch, as being in an extremely intoxicated state so much so, that she had reversed her jeep into a wall as she left the pub. Det Insp Roche said it was this information that led gardai to call to Melia’s house at Kilcahill, Claregalway. He said that it was obvious from the driveway that the vehicle had been involved in an incident, with marks on the road stretching back four to five kilometres.
The jeep was found in the driveway by gardai who observed that the front passenger side tyre had been blown out and replaced, that there was “little or no rubber left”, and there was a dent on the bonnet. When questioned by gardai Melia became upset and admitted that she had been involved in an accident but did not admit to hitting someone, instead she stated she had “hit a ditch”. The vehicle was seized and brought for forensic examination and shortly afterwards Melia was arrested. During interviews with gardai, Melia said that she had been drinking since 6pm that evening and that a man had been in the vehicle with her. She said that after the accident she went to this man’s house and then later to her home. This man, who has since passed away, told gardai that he had been in the car and that they had “hit something”. Det Insp Roche said that during further questioning Melia admitted “they had suspected that they had hit a person, that it was Packie Lynch, that he would have normally walked along this area”.
“Was there any evidence that if he [Mr Lynch] was attended to sooner he would have survived?” asked Judge Raymond Groarke.
Det Insp Roche replied that the injuries were “horrific” and that, in his view, it was “highly unlikely” that Mr Lynch would have survived.
Senior Counsel Paul Greene said that his client, who has no previous convictions, had begun to drink more excessively after the breakdown of her marriage in April 2008 and that she had been left with no support in the rearing of her children. He said that Melia had been driving up the back road when she swerved to avoid an oncoming car, heard a bang, and kept going.
“She has acknowledge the stupidity of her actions, there is real remorse, she said that she is responsible for having so many lives ruined,” said Mr Greene, adding that Melia had since moved from the Kilcahill area. Mr Greene also handed in a letter written by his client to Mr Lynch’s family. “It outlines a short narrative of her remorse, regret, and hope that they can find a way to forgive her,” he said.
After considering the evidence Judge Groarke said that this was a “terribly sad case” because of the “innocent victims of her actions”, the first of whom was Mr Lynch himself, followed by his family and also Melia’s children “who have had their lives turned upside down”.
“Having struck Mr Lynch she did a runner; knowing she had struck someone she tried to look after herself rather than help the victim,” said Judge Groarke who then noted that prior to April 2008 Melia took her responsibilities seriously and has since expressed remorse.
