Man suffered trauma following fatal crash in Laois

A passenger in a car involved in a fatal crash suffered “severe trauma” and developed addiction issues, a sitting of Portlaoise District Court was told. 

Lee Dennehy, 22, of 86 Rossvale, Portlaoise admitted stealing alcohol and being drunk in Portlaoise on dates in 2022 and 2023. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant had stolen a bottle of vodka valued at €23 from Aldi in Portlaoise on June 6, 2023. He said the man had stolen a crate of Budweiser valued at €20 from the Carryout on the Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise on December 28, 2022.  The defendant admitted to being drunk at Coote Street, Portlaoise on July 7, 2022, on the Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise on August 24, 2022 and again on the Dublin Road, Portlaoise on July 28, 2023. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby outlined each of the offences and said the defendant had eight previous convictions. 

Mr Meagher said his client was awaiting a place in a residential treatment centre. He said the defendant was a passenger in a car that was involved in a fatal collision and he “suffered severe trauma” from the incident. 

After the incident, he said the man began “drinking and getting drunk” and coming to adverse attention. 

“He seems a genuinely remorseful man who developed an addiction,” he said. 

Mr Meagher said his client has not been socialising in recent times. 

“For the last three or four weeks he has literally been staying at home,” he explained. 

Mr Meagher said “this does represent somewhat of a change in his behaviour” and he asked that the man be given a chance. 

Judge Nicola Andrews sentenced the man to two months and suspended the sentence for two years. 

“He is to engage with the probation services as per the probation service report,” said Judge Andrews.