Two drivers jailed for causing woman's death
Friday, 25 July 2008 18:03Two men who were driving at high speed and who were involved in an accident that killed a 19-year-old woman in Limerick city two years ago have received jail sentences of four and three years.
Romanas Andreas, 23, pleaded quilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Emma Woodland at Ballysimon Road in Limerick on 9 September 2006.
He was drunk at the time and the high-powered BMW he was driving at excessive speed collided with a Honda car driven by 25-year-old Gearoid Cleary.
Mr Cleary's car subsequently crashed into a Toyota Starlet car in which Ms Woodland was a backseat passenger. She died from her injuries.
Mr Cleary contested the charge in court insisting he was never the cause of Ms Woodland's death, but he was found guilty by a jury in July.
Ms Woodland's brother Ian said the loss of his only sibling had left his family's life torn apart, and they were living in a never-ending nightmare.
Passing sentence at Limerick Circuit Court this afternoon, Judge Caroll Moran said it was clear the two men were driving exceedingly fast and, in addition, Mr Andreas was drunk.
He took into account his guilty plea and imposed a three-year sentence backdated to his arrest on the night of the offence two years ago.
Mr Cleary was sentenced to four years in prison and was refused leave to appeal the sentence. The judge banned both from driving for ten years.
