HORROR AS BOY DRIVER , 16 KILLED IN CRASH
Victim is son of jailed hellhole puppy farmer
A BOY aged 16 died when the car he was driving smashed into a wall early yesterday morning.
Four of Eamon Kavanagh’s pals were also injured – one critically – when the vehicle careered into a concrete barrier on a mountain road in Co Carlow.
The dead teen is the son of puppy farmer James Kavanagh who was jailed last week for animal cruelty.
A TEENAGER died instantly and four of his pals were injured – one seriously – in a horror road crash yesterday.
Eamon Kavanagh, 16, was driving the car when it hit a wall near The Nine Stones at Mount Leinster in Borris, Co Carlow. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
He is the son of James Kavanagh, who was jailed for three years last Friday for animal cruelty after admitting hoarding more than 300 dogs in one of the country’s largest puppy farms.
The four injured friends were brought to St Luke’s Hospital and Waterford University Hospital, with one teen transferred to the Mater in Dublin where he remains in a critical condition.
One of the passengers managed to get out of the car and raise the alarm.
It is understood the dead teen’s mother Jenny Kavanagh took ill after she found out her son had been killed and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.
The mum of five received a 12-month suspended sentence after she pleaded guilty to 30 charges of animal cruelty.
It is unclear how Eamon came to be driving the car in the early hours of yesterday.
But a family friend said he had taken a relative’s vehicle. They paid tribute to the tragic teen and said: “He was always a lovely lad smiling.”
Fine Gael councillor Tommy Kinsella said: “The family need privacy at this time and people are traumatised.”
Eamon attended Borris Vocational school and was due to sit his Junior Cert this summer.
The four other passengers go to school at Presentation De La Salle in Bagenalstown.
Students who were set to return to lessons today after their mid-term break are said to be “in pieces,” and “physically sick” at the news.
The principal of Borris Vocational School has been in touch with the National Educational Psychological Service who will offer support to those affected.
The tragedy comes four years after gardai and animal welfare officers found a number of dead dogs and horses when they inspected Kavanagh’s dog breeding premises at Raheenleigh in Myshal.
Carlow Circuit Court heard 340 dogs and 11 horses were removed from the property after the inspection.
Four horses and 20 dogs had to be put down because they were in such poor health.
The family need privacy at this time. People are traumatised TOMMY KINSELLA fine gael cllr yesterday