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Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man, 20s, killed in horror collision
A man has died following a road traffic collision in the early hours of Saturday. The fatal collision occurred on Balbutcher Lane, Ballymun, Dublin 11. Emergency services were tasked to the scene at approximately 4.55am. The collision involved a vehicle and a pedestrian. The pedestrian, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. "No other injuries have been reported at this time," said a gardai spokesperson. "The road is closed for technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators, with local diversions in place. "Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them." The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The spokesperson added: "Any road users or pedestrians who were in the vicinity of Balbutcher Lane and Balcurris Park areas of Ballymun, between 4:00am and 5:00am, and have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí. "Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballymun Garda Station at (01) 6664400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station."
Irish Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dangerous driving conviction overturned after 'passenger seat' Snapchat video
A young man has had his conviction for dangerous driving overturned after a court viewed a Snapchat video which he argued proves he was actually in the passenger seat of the car as it was pursued by Gardaí. Myles Smith, 22, had his conviction quashed at the District Court Appeals Court on Thursday despite the State submitting that other video footage presented as evidence in the case had been edited. Mr Smith, with an address at Mount Symon Lawn, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, had pleaded not guilty in the District Court to dangerous driving contrary to section 53.1 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, and had also denied counts of driving with no insurance, driving without a licence, two counts of failure to produce documents and failure to produce information contrary to section 107 4b of the same act. Garda Andrew Burlingham told the appeals court that he was on patrol in the Blanchardstown area on April 12, 2021 at around 9pm when he observed a car drive from the left lane to the right lane without indicating and crossing over another vehicle. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week He said that he saw the car fail to indicate and turn back into Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, where his Garda colleague activated his lights and sirens to indicate for the car to stop. Garda Burlingham said that the vehicle failed to stop and that he observed it driving at high speed, forcing other road users to take evasive action. He said that in the following pursuit, he saw the car driving extremely fast over speed bumps, ignore a red light and drive the wrong way around a roundabout. He said he pursued the car as it approached Aldemere Drive in Clonsilla, where he said it mounted a green area in an estate and was abandoned by the occupants. Garda Burlingham said that he saw Mr Smith exit from the driver's side of the car, that he pursued him to where he was hiding in a wooded area and arrested him. On the count of dangerous driving, Mr Smith was disqualified from driving for two years and given a fine of €450 in the District Court. He also got a two-year driving ban and a €400 fine for his charge of driving with no insurance and a fine of €300 for his charge of driving without a licence. Defence counsel for Mr Smith, Aoife McNickle BL, submitted that her client was not driving the car during the incident. Counsel said that he was sitting in the passenger side of the vehicle at the time, and presented a Snapchat video taken by Mr Smith during the pursuit, which she said proved he was in the passenger seat. The footage, which was played to the court, showed Mr Smith sitting in the car while flashing lights from the Gardaí could be seen through the rear window and wing mirrors. She also presented a second video, taken by Mr Smith after the event, in order to prove his position in the car was in fact the passenger seat, not the driver seat. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Clare Barry, put it to Mr Smith that she believed the second video had been edited between the moments when the camera flipped between front-facing and back-facing angles. She said that 'even the most digitally illiterate people can do that'. Mr Smith denied that the footage was edited and maintained that he was in the passenger seat and not driving the car. Mr Smith also claimed that Garda Burlingham was not the Garda member who arrested him at the scene. Ms Barry said it was the State's case that Mr Smith was driving the car during the chase and that the second video, which he said proved he was in the passenger seat, was not authentic. Mr Smith denied this claim in court. Judge Jonathan Dunphy said that after 'numerous viewings' of the video evidence, he had doubt over who was driving the car. He said that although Mr Smith's behaviour as a passenger of the car was 'a disgrace', he must give him the benefit of the doubt and found there is no satisfactory evidence that he was the owner or driver of the car. He decided to allow the appeal of Mr Smith's conviction on these grounds.
Irish Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Funeral details announced for young 'gentle soul' who died in tragic road crash
The funeral details of a young man who tragically died following a fatal road collision in Laois in the early hours of Thursday morning have been announced as tributes continue to flow. Colm Lynch O'Sullivan, who was in his 20s, passed away following a single-vehicle collision that occurred at Ballaghmore in Borris-In-Ossory. His death notice on states that Colm, from Cloncoure, Ballaghmore, Laois / Roscrea, Tipperary, is survived by his parents Olive and Con, pre-deceased by his sister Grace and sadly missed by his brothers Brendan and Tómas, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, niece, extended family and all his friends. Colm will lie in repose in Tierney's Funeral Home, Roscrea on Sunday evening from 4pm to 7pm. His removal from his residence in Cloncourse on Monday morning will take place at 10.30am, arriving in St Molua's Church, Ballaghmore for a funeral mass at 11am. Colm's burial will take place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Meanwhile, tributes continue to flow to Colm, with one mourner saying that "Colm was a real gentleman and always so good humoured" and describing him as a "gentle soul". 'Sincere sympathy to Con, Olive, Tòmas and Brendan on the tragic loss of Colm. Colm was a real gentleman and always so good humoured. You are in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time. May Colm's gentle soul rest in the arms of Jesus,' they said. Another wrote: 'Olive and Con, family and friends, we are so sorry to hear about Colm's untimely death. There are no words for this tragedy. You are in our thoughts at this very difficult time. Rest in peace Colm, bed of heaven to you.' 'Sincere sympathy on the tragic loss of your darling son and brother Colm. There are no words of consolation to offer you at this terrible time but be assured you are in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in peace Colm and watch over all those whose hearts are broken on your tragic passing,' said another mourner. On Thursday, local councillor John King said the whole community of Ballaghmore and the Roscrea area of Co Tipperary, where Mr O'Sullivan worked in his dad Con's garage, was 'in complete shock and heartbroken'. 'There is complete shock and sadness around,' said Cllr King. 'The loss of a young life is horrendous for his heartbroken family and to the area as well. 'My deepest sympathies go to the young man's family. It is not an easy time,' said Cllr King. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Not to visit' warning issued as Irish hospital battles outbreak of Covid-19
Wexford General Hospital is currently managing an outbreak of Covid-19 in 'some wards'. Services at the hospital are not affected and visiting is being permitted, however, the situation will remain under review by management. Hospital officials are asking members of the public 'not to visit' the hospital if they are experiencing respiratory and/or Covid-19 symptoms. The wearing of masks may be required in areas of the 280-bed hospital, which provides inpatient, outpatient, day care, outreach and emergency services. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ex-county GAA star avoids assault rap after getting 'paralytic drunk' on stag
An off-duty Garda - who has represented Roscommon at senior inter-county football level - got 'paralytic drunk' after drinking sambucas during an 'alcohol-fuelled' stag weekend before assaulting a hotel porter in Ennis, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett commented: 'It is a shame really that but for the isolated incident on a stag night where Caoileann Fitzmaurice drank sambuca he probably wouldn't be here at all." Judge Gabbett said: 'Mr Fitzmaurice had four or five drinks and all of a sudden he was paralytic drunk and he had to be brought home. Then he was confronted by this nice man (Olufegun Lawal) who was trying to direct him to the right place when the melee ensued.' Judge Gabbett said that Mr Fitzmaurice was on 'an alcohol-fuelled weekend'. In the case, Caoileann Fitzmaurice, 31, who is stationed at Pearse Street Garda Station in Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting Olufegun Lawal at the Queen's Hotel, Abbey Street, Ennis in Co Clare on January 21, 2023. Judge Gabbett said that he would not be imposing a conviction on Mr Fitzmaurice for the late-night assault and instead imposed the Probation Act on the man and made a compensation order for €5,000, which was handed over to Mr Lawal. Judge Gabbett said that he was not convicting Mr Fitzmaurice of the offence 'due to the exemplary fashion in which he has engaged with the Probation Services'. Judge Gabbett said that the manner in which Mr Fitzmaurice - who has no previous convictions - has met the case 'is an example to others'. He said: 'He has met the case head on, shown remorse, apologised, faced up to it and paid compensation.' He said: 'It is a very, very good probation report. Mr Fitzmaurice's own insight into the offending is excellent, which comes out in the report. Judge Gabbett said: 'He has given up alcohol, he has engaged in counselling, he is getting married, he has engaged in very pro-social activities.' The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Judge Gabbett said that Mr Fitzmaurice 'is a very well-educated gentleman and has a qualification in criminology". He said: 'There is obviously a significant future here for him in his current job with his qualifications.' Judge Gabbett said that Mr Fitzmaurice 'is mortified' by what occurred. Judge Gabbett said: 'He has received significant publicity for this crime, which is very difficult for his family, his club mates and his colleagues." He said: 'I am very conscious of the notoriety that this case has brought him - unfortunately Mr Google will follow him around for a long time.' Judge Gabbett said that he wouldn't expect to see Mr Fitzmaurice in a court again other than in his role as a state witness. He said that it is never easy for a member of An Garda Síochána to be before the courts. Judge Gabbett said that he was conscious of the internal disciplinary proceedings within An Garda Síochána which, he said, will have to happen because it is an assault. Judge Gabbett said that the significant aspect of the disciplinary proceedings is to get Mr Fitzmaurice "off administrative duties and back to his normal duties of preventing crime'. Counsel for Mr Fitzmaurice, Cian Kelly BL, asked that the case be struck out due to the manner in which Mr Fitzmaurice has met the case. Judge Gabbett said that he didn't think it would change the outcome of the disciplinary process if the case was struck out. Mr Kelly said: 'Unfortunately having dealt with the minutiae of that disciplinary process I am very conscious that minute differences have significant ramifications in that process.' Judge Gabbett said: 'The court has come as much as it can in terms of sanction.' State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey, said: 'From the very outset, the victim wanted an acknowledgement that he had done nothing wrong and the accused was apologetic to him.' Mr Lawal opted not to provide a victim impact statement to the court. On his way out of the courtroom, Mr Fitzmaurice shook hands with Mr Lawal. In the prosecution against Mr Fitzmaurice taken by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), Sarah Jane Comerford BL previously outlined the facts in the case to the court. Ms Comerford said on January 21, 2023, Mr Fitzmaurice was off-duty on the night, was out with friends in Ennis and he was brought back to the Queen's hotel by a number of friends. Ms Comerford said: 'He was exceptionally intoxicated and in a confused state and was brought back by friends for the purpose of putting him to bed. 'But they left him in the care of hotel porter, Mr Lawal and asked Mr Lawal to bring him up to his room." Ms Comerford said: 'Unfortunately, Garda Fitzmaurice was in such an intoxicated state that he started walking around the hotel. He was very disoriented - he dropped the key to his hotel room and Mr Lawal, who was at all times trying to assist him, picked up the key and at that point, Garda Fitzmaurice struck him two times - once in the nose and once in the left eye and Mr Lawal caught the third blow. She said: 'Mr Lawal suffered a bloody nose and he did get some medical attention later that morning." 'The incident spilled out onto the street, where a witness saw Mr Fitzmaurice holding onto Mr Lawal and kicking out. The incident was also captured on CCTV footage." Mr Kelly previously said that Mr Fitzmaurice attested as a Garda in 2017 and is stationed at Pearse Street Garda station. He said that prior to the Ennis incident, Mr Fitzmaurice was a Garda on beat patrol and is currently on Garda office duties. Mr Kelly said that Mr Fitzmaurice is heavily involved in GAA, where he is captain of his local senior football team, Michael Glavey's in Roscommon.
