MUM’S GRIEF
‘HEARTBROKEN beyond words’ is how the mother of a Limerick teen described losing him in a traffic accident in Enniscrone, in 2016.
The Limerick mother took the stand at Sligo Circuit Court last week to give her victim impact statement ahead of the sentencing of Patrick Flynn (21) of Farranmacfarrell, Dromore West, who pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of Seán Egan.
Mrs Helen Egan brought a framed picture of her son into court and said an early morning knock on the door from gardaí on March 19, 2016 changed her family’s life forever.
She said her son was just one month shy from his eighteenth birthday and the All Ireland boxing medallist from Abbeyfeale was ‘so excited to grow up’.
Before the victim impact statement was read out, facts were given of the incident by Sergeant Helen Cuddy. It was heard that five men, including Patrick and the deceased, who knew of each other on the night through a mutual friend, were drinking cans on the beach before going to GIlroy’s Bar in Enniscrone.
Patrick Flynn’s van was parked up and at approximately 1am three of the group went to a local takeaway.
Following the others, Patrick and Seán set off in the van down Cliff Rd and up Pier Rd up towards Main St. The van impacted with McNulty’s pub at approximately 1.29am, resulting in Mr Egan suffering serious head injuries.
It was heard that Flynn got out of the vehicle and after checking on Seán he ran to the takeaway his friends were in and told them what happened.
Following the attendance of emergency services, Flynn was arrested and in a voluntary statement outlined that Seán had pulled the handbrake with no warning and the van had ‘spun around’ and the passenger side of the vehicle impacted with the building. Neither Flynn or Seán were wearing a seat belt on the night.
From CCTV it was ascertained that the van was travelling in the region of 56km to 76km per hour before the collision occurred.
The court was told that Flynn was in his third year studying Agricultural Science in UCD and had not come to garda attention since. Defending, Mr Colm Smyth SC with Mr Keith O’Grady BL and Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor cited the fact the handbrake had been pulled on the night as a mitigating factor and said speed did not play a factor in the collision.
He added that it was unclear how much alcohol had been consumed on the night, but that ‘four cans’ were mentioned and there had been a ‘suggestion’ of drinks in the bar. It was heard that the families of the accused and the deceased met months after the accident.
In her victim impact statement Seán’s mother outlined that telling her three children their eldest brother had passed away was the most difficult thing she has ever had to do.
“Goodbyes hurt the most when his story was just beggining,” said Mrs Egan, adding that despite the fact 35 months had passed, the grief was ‘raw as ever’.
She continued, “Grief has no shelf life. we carry the grief as long as we breathe.”
Mrs Egan said the day in court was not about her family, but about getting ‘justice’ for her son and her family would never accept an apology from Flynn.
Addressing the court, Flynn’s father said his son has never been the same after the accident and that their hearts go out to the Egans.
Taking the stand, Flynn said he was ‘very sorry for what happened that night’, that he thinks about it every day and plans on continuing with counselling.
Mr Smyth urged the court to take into account that the handbrake had been applied on the night and was a ‘significant factor’.
He said his client accepted that he had consumed alcohol on the night and that a Proba- tion Report showed Flynn to be at low risk of reoffending.
“It’s a life sentence for him. He’ ll never forget that night,” said Mr Smyth.
Judge Francis Comerford adjourned sentencing in the case to this Thursday.