Laois man suffered PTSD type symptoms following fatal crash
The man appeared before a sittng of Portlaoise District Court
A passenger of a car which was involved in a fatal collision has been relying on alcohol since suffering PTSD symptoms, a court was told.
Lee Dennehy(23) of 25 Roselawn, Portlaoise, was arrested for being intoxicated in public at Jessop Street, Portlaoise on October 28, 2024.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was highly intoxicated and unsteady on his feet and drinking from a can of Linden Village when gardaí arrested him for his own safety on the date in question. He told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the man, who had 30 previous convictions, had been issued with a fine but it wasn’t paid.
Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was pleading guilty to the offence. He said the man’s offending mostly occurred in recent years.
“He was a passenger in a vehicle which was involved in a very traumatic fatal vehicle accident,” said Mr Meagher.
He said his client had suffered from “PTSD type symptoms” as a result of the incident and began relying on alcohol. He said the man hasn’t been able to secure work and was involved in a lot of alcohol thefts.
“This particular incident was yet again another example,” he said.
However, Mr Meagher said the man was “now getting better” and was engaging with the local LOETB and attending CADS(Community Alcohol and Drugs Services). He said drugs weren’t a feature but “alcohol is his demon”.
Mr Meagher said that when his client is sober he is a “very mannerly young man” and when he drinks he “effectively becomes pathetic”.
Judge Susan Fay referred the defendant to the alternative project, granted legal aid and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on October 6 for finalisation.