A driver who caused the crash which claimed the life of his friend in Co Meath two years ago has been spared jail at Trim Circuit Court today.
Twenty-six-year-old Greg Kelly of Doonaree Lane, Kingscourt, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Dylan Ward at Boynabough Kilmainhamwood on 21 December 2018.
The victim had arrived home for Christmas from London only an hour earlier, the court heard.
Garda Emmet Keane told the court the crash occurred at around 8pm that night as the defendant was driving with Mr Ward on the Nobber-Kingscourt road to visit another friend who lived nearby.
The defendant had lost control of his car after it hit a patch of water which was flowing across the Kingscourt bound carriageway and aquaplaned onto the opposite verge, struck the ditch, and as it was coming back collided side-on with an oncoming car, the garda said.
Both wheels on the passenger's side of the defendant's car were detached in the collision.
The other motorist told gardaí he had been travelling at 45km/h in the opposite direction when he was confronted by headlights just before the crash.
He said the defendant told him at the scene he had been trying to avoid a puddle at the time.
Kelly later told gardaí he had previously removed the passenger seat when he had been repairing the roof of the vehicle - a two-seater Honda sports car.
The court heard the victim had been sitting on the floor as a result.
Kelly said his car was uninsured at the time as he had intended to emigrate to Australia in mid-January.
The court heard there was no evidence of drink, drugs or speeding being a factor in the crash.
In a victim impact statement read on their behalf by prosecuting counsel Carl Hanahoe BL the dead man's parents Tina and Michael Ward described their son as a kind and gentle soul who had been an amazing actor and writer who also loved to sing.
They said the family missed Dylan every day and their hearts had been broken and their lives destroyed and torn apart by his death.
"We'll never get to see him married and have children or grow into the man he so wanted to be," they said.
They also said they were extremely upset and hurt that the defendant had made no effort to apologise to them or show remorse for the fatal crash.
Replying to defence barrister Maurice Coffey SC Greg Kelly said he had kept his distance from the Ward family thinking he was respecting their wishes.
He apologised to both the Ward and his own family for what had happened.
"All I can say is I'm truly sorry. Dylan was more than just a friend. He was like a brother to me. I think about him every day. He was just a special person who can never be replaced," he said.
After reading psychological and probation reports on the defendant Judge Patrick Quinn imposed a suspended sentence of two years and a driving ban of 10 years.
