Driver high in fatal crash that killed three

Repli

From todays indo - I know this happened 2 years ago but still - goes to show what kind of lunatics are on our roads

Driver high in fatal crash that killed three

A DRIVER was high on drink and drugs when he ploughed into an electricity pole killing his three back-seat passengers, an inquest has heard.

Driver Keith Bolger (21) told Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday he could not remember one of the passengers asking him to stop and let him out before he collided with the pole at the Dublin Road in Sutton in the early hours of June 20, 2003.

Bolger is currently serving an eight-year sentence for dangerous driving causing death, with the last three years suspended.

Two of the victims, Peter O'Rourke of Lentisk Lawns, Donaghmede, and Anthony Murphy of Beverton Grove, Donabate, both aged 18, had just finished their Leaving Certificate the day before. The third victim was Aston Ryan (21) of Grangemore Crescent in Donaghmede.

All three are believed to have died instantly or shortly after at the scene. Bolger was the only person to walk from the wreckage while the front-seat passenger, Rory Conroy, also survived the crash but was seriously injured.

The court was told that Bolger had indulged in a drink and drugs binge in the hours before the accident, visiting three pubs, buying two grammes of cocaine and smoking cannabis. During this time he drove at high speeds and through numerous red lights.

Bolger met Aston Ryan in a pub in Kilbarrack the evening before while the two Leaving Certificate friends only entered the car shortly before the crash when Bolger was dropping off another man.

The other survivor of the impact, Rory Conroy, told the court he had earlier been driving the Nissan Micra around the area of Dollymount Beach where he did handbrake turns. He recalled having a minor accident as he drove onto a roundabout and then Bolger took over the wheel.

Taxi driver Marion Whelan said she saw a dark Nissan Micra travelling along Kilbarrack Road at high speed and on the wrong side of the road and phoned her base control to warn other drivers that joyriders were in the area. Moments later she saw the same car crashed into the electricity pole.

Gardai recovered a half-empty bottle of vodka from underneath the driver's seat and estimated the car was travelling at between 74 and 83mph at the time of impact.

A post mortem revealed that all three victims died of multiple injuries.

A jury recorded a verdict in line with that handed down by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last November of death by dangerous driving for all victims.

Breda Heffernan

Sleipnir

83 mph in a Micra in a busy town....What else is going to happen.

Calina

slightly off topic but why in the name of God did this take two years to go through procedure?

Jonny Arson

This accident happened near to where I live. No doubt that this was incredibly tragic but I don't have any sympathy for anyone who travels in a car driven by a raging pisshead and druggie at illegal speeds. Sadly these lads lack of common sense lead to their deaths. The driver from what I am led to believe has been forgive by some of the parents of the victims. I frankly think that is ridiculous. Keith Bolger has got away with murder. He played russian roulette with his life and the lives of his friends and he became the lucky one. 8 years with 3 suspended is a complete and utter disgrace and proves how lenient the legal system is in this country. People like him should be punished severly in order to send a message to people that you cannot get away from this type of behaviour. I see nearly everytime when I'm in a car a night the shocking amount of drink-drivers on our roads. The penalty points system is not good enough. Drink-drivers need to be punished with jail if we are going to save people's lives.

Victor

Calina wrote:

slightly off topic but why in the name of God did this take two years to go through procedure?

Coroners Court has to take place after criminal cases.

newgrange

Idiots, high and not, do those sort of speeds on the coast road all the time. If only poles were waiting for more of them.

Darwinism in action.

Repli

Idiots, high and not, do those sort of speeds on the coast road all the time. If only poles were waiting for more of them.

Darwinism in action.

I'd generally agree with you, but in this case the person driving the car survived, not a scratch, and 3 in the back were killed. One of the guys in the back only met the driver the day before, and another one of them was asking the driver could he get out before the crash happened, but the driver (Bolger) claims he didn't hear him

Hobbes

I am tempted to install a camera on my car facing back and forwards because half the crap I am seeing from day to day people don't believe me and these people need to be without a license until they can learn how to drive.

Even today coming home there was a woman driver in front of me who was either drunk or tired. She continually swerved out onto the other side of the road and at one point reseted her head on the door frame where her arm hanging out.