Hit and run driver jailed for six years

The late Jim Brennan.

and had to be restrained before been taken to Enniscorthy Garda Station. He again became aggressive in the station but subsequently calmed down. He declined to sign the memo of interview and also declined a formal identification parade.

A number of items were found in the stolen car while O’Brien’s DNA was found on a cigarette butt in the car.

Sgt Isdell said O’Brien subsequently left the jurisdiction but was later extradited back to Ireland on foot of a Europen

Arrest Warrant prepared on May 13, 2019.

The defendant, he said, had a number of previous convictions, including one for dangerous driving, three no insurance offences, 32 public order offences, seven theft and also assault and failing to appear in court.

Defence counsel Sarah Phelan SC, along with junior counsel Jacqueline Curran, offered their client’s apology to the families of both people involved in the accident.

Describing it as a terrible thing to happen, she said the defendant deeply regretted not taking full responsibility at the time.

Ms Phelan said she did not want to say anything that would distract from that apology, for she can say very little regarding the circumstance of what happened on the night.

She said there was a probation and welfare report before the court along with a psychological report and some clinical psychologists reports. She asked the court to bear in mind the influence of substance at the time of the accident.

The simple fact of the matter, she said, was that the defendant had a difficult history having earlier had a stable background up to the age of twelve, when his grandfather passed away.

While in prison, O’Brien has