A 25-year-old man who killed his brother when he drove off a pier in a suicide attempt has been given a five-year suspended prison sentence.
Edward O'Mahony, a stonemason from Springfield Park in Cobh, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his brother Patrick, who was a passenger in his car.
Brothers Edward and Patrick O'Mahony were described by their mother Breda as best friends who went everywhere together. On 7 July last year, Edward O'Mahony celebrated his 24th birthday.
He spent the previous night drinking at a house party in Cobh, got up for work on the morning of his birthday but changed his mind and resumed drinking for several hours. He had broken up with his partner during the week.
The court was told that at 1.30pm he got into his car to drive to the Deepwater Pier in Cobh with the intention of taking his own life. However his brother also got into the car.
The two argued, with Patrick O'Mahony trying to stop his brother, and Edward asking him to get out of the car.
Patrick refused to get out and at 1.40pm, Edward drove the Ford Focus into the sea from the Deepwater Quay. He escaped and Patrick drowned.
Edward O'Mahony pleaded guilty to drunk driving and to the manslaughter of his brother Patrick.
He was given a five-year suspended sentence and was disqualified from driving for 10 years.
