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Sunday World
22-06-2025
- Sunday World
Dad twice caught driving at over four times legal limit dodges prison
'VERY LUCKY' | Defence barrister Sarah Brennan said the 'very traumatic' murder of his sister in the US had provided the catalyst for the onset of an 'extensive drink problem'. Peter McKenna Judge Raymond Finnegan warned Peter McKenna (56) of the potential consequences that awaited him following both episodes which occurred in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan in April and December last year. McKenna, with addresses at Castle Lodge Guesthouse, Market Square, Monaghan and Cois Locha, Doohamlet, Castleblayney, Monaghan pleaded guilty to two counts of drink driving, alongside those of no insurance and dangerous driving in the south Monaghan town on April 21 and December 16, 2024. Sgt Lisa McEntee relayed the State's evidence in connection to the first incident which took place shortly after 1am. She explained how gardaí, who had been on patrol in the area, came across McKenna behind the wheel of a red Vauxhall van which had been travelling along a stretch of the old Monaghan road and in the direction of Castleblayney town. Sgt McEntee said the vehicle was spotted 'swerving over and back and from side to side', resulting in gardaí turning around their patrol car and going off in pursuit of the offending vehicle. Having carried out that manoeuvre on the town's York Street area, Sgt McEntee said pursuing gardaí proceeded to activate the patrol car's blue lights as the vehicle in question continued onwards with its full beam headlights on while also 'swerving over and back and from side to side'. When McKenna pulled in and was tested for drink driving, Sgt McEntee said his reading returned a result of 223mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. That reading put McKenna at almost four and a half times over the legal limit to drive owing to the fact the State's present day legal limit stands at 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Less than eight months later, the court was told how McKenna was caught for a second time with an almost identical blood alcohol level, this time as he drove a silver coloured Renault Kangoo van through the town. Sgt McEntee said McKenna was identified by gardaí as they observed him driving at speed along the town's Main Street shortly after midnight on December 16 last year. Like the earlier incident, gardaí took off in pursuit of McKenna before noticing the accused make a left hand turn at a roundabout while proceeding out of town and along the Monaghan Road. Moments later, the van was sighted turning onto the Ballybay Road where McKenna signalled to turn right before turning off his indicator to instead indicate left. Judge Finnegan was told how once McKenna pulled in, gardaí once again took a sample from the accused in a move which returned a reading of 224mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The court heard McKenna had one previous conviction for drink driving to his name, which dated back to 2004. Defence barrister Sarah Brennan, BL, said there was no denying the 'very high' nature of both readings, as she told of McKenna had been cooperative throughout both incidents by providing samples and ultimately tendering guilty pleas before the court. She said McKenna was a separated man who had been labouring under poor health for some time, challenges which had been brought to bear by a diagnosis of Chron's disease some 10 years earlier. Ms Brennan said McKenna had undergone extensive surgery as a result and was now on anti-depressants and reliant on a €240 weekly income from disability allowance. She said the upshot from that diagnosis and the 'very traumatic' murder of his sister in the US had, by his own admission, provided the catalyst for the onset of an 'extensive drink problem'. Peter McKenna News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd In appealing for leniency, Ms Brennan also implored the court to consider the antiquity which was linked to her client's sole previous conviction over two decades earlier. Judge Finnegan disqualified McKenna for two and three years respectively for dangerous and drink driving for the April 21 incident, fining him €250 in the process. A five month jail term, suspended for two years, was similarly imposed for the drink driving summons despite Judge Finnegan's own concession of how he had been 'very tempted' not to suspend any of its duration. A further €500 fine was handed down for no insurance in the latter incident with a six year ban and five month consecutive suspended prison sentence being recorded for what Judge Finnegan said was an 'extraordinary' alcohol intake reading. In handing down those penalties and advising McKenna of his good fortune in avoiding a custodial spell, Judge Finnegan told him: 'You are getting a chance Mr McKenna. It's up to you whether you take it, if you don't you will serve the full sentence.'
The Citizen
06-05-2025
- The Citizen
Final salute: Emotional farewell to young constables found in Hennops River
An emotional memorial service was held to honour Constables Boipelo Senoge, Keamogetswe Buys, and Cebekhulu Linda — three young police officers whose promising lives and careers were tragically cut short, leaving their families, colleagues, and the nation in mourning. The bodies of the three police constables were retrieved from the Hennops River in Centurion last week. A memorial took place at Bobbies Park in Bloemfontein. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said mourners gathered with heavy hearts to honour the tragic and untimely loss of three young, dedicated, and dynamic police constables. 'We gather in this province today with heavy hearts, to mourn the tragic and devastating untimely departure of our three young, dedicated and dynamic police Constables. 'While words cannot fully express the depth of our loss, we remember them for their unwavering commitment to serving and protecting fellow South Africans and for their enthusiasm, operational intellect, and kindness that extended far beyond their specific areas of responsibility. 'It is with profound sorrow and great loss that I stand here before you to talk about three young lives that we now have to talk about in the past tense.' Five bodies were recovered from the Hennops River in Centurion last week during an intensive two-day search for three missing police constables. One of the bodies found in the river was of a 'white person'. Police also unearthed a Renault Kangoo panel van in the river, and a fourth body. The deceased driver of the van was a member of the SAPS attached to the Lyttelton police station in Tshwane. Among the dead were Constables Boipelo Senoge, Cebekhulu Linda, and Keamogetswe Buys, along with a Lyttelton police station employee who was driving a Renault Kangoo van, and a fifth, still-unidentified, decomposed body. Masemola said when one joins the SAPS family, we all take up the oath of office called the SAPS code of conduct. 'The SAPS' Code of Conduct outlines the principles and values that guide the behaviour of police officers. Law enforcement is a unique endeavour, some would say it is a profession, while most involved would say it is a calling. 'I would argue that there are few undertakings so noble as the protection of your community. There are those who question why anyone would ever go into the field of law enforcement. For those of us involved, we could not imagine ever doing anything else. 'We were indeed still hoping to see the three constables progress within the ranks and still contribute to crime combatting efforts. The sad and devastating part is that they only had two years' service. To the families of Constable Senoge, Buys and Linda, it is my hope and prayer that you will find comfort and strength in God during this very difficult time of immense loss. 'May God ease the pain and distress of your bereavement. May the loving memories of your time together bring you peace, comfort, and strength.' He added that when the police first picked up this case, they never anticipated this tragic end. 'We initially thought it was a possible hijacking and kidnapping. We investigated, but through technology and, meticulous intelligence and detective work, our investigation led us to the Hennops River in Centurion along the N1 – where we undertook a three-day search. It had been a difficult six days for members of the South African Police Service and the affected families as we searched everywhere for our three missing police officers.' Masemola said the high-level team appointed spent sleepless nights combing the length and breadth of Gauteng, Free State and Limpopo. 'Following all possible leads and after studying all evidence we had gathered, our investigation led us to Hennops River, where we recovered the bodies of the three members, our groundsman, Jan Zwane and a decomposed body. Ultimately, on the 7th day of the investigation and search, we found the VW polo belonging to Constable Linda. 'Let me once again thank all our dedicated units and other law enforcement agencies that assisted in the search and rescue operation. From our crime and counter – intelligence units, K9 search and rescue, cybercrime, detectives from various units, our Airwing and drone pilots, the hawks and divers from various units and organisations.' He furthermore said the vehicle accident unit of the SAPS is still conducting further investigations, and we eagerly await the comprehensive report that will reveal the cause of the tragic accident. Also read: Hennops River bodies: No bullet wounds on three deceased Constables Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- The Citizen
Another part of car found as investigation into deaths of 3 constables continues
Another part of car found as investigation into deaths of 3 constables continues Police divers have recovered the back part of the VW Polo that the three Free State constables were travelling in when they were reported missing and later found deceased in the Hennops River. The front part of the vehicle was recovered on May 1, Pretoria Rekord reports. The three police constables disappeared on April 23 while travelling from Bloemfontein to their deployment area in Limpopo. Constables Cebekhulu Linda (24), Boipelo Senoge (24), and Keamogetswe Buys (30) will each be buried on separate days between May 8 and 10, with memorial and funeral services planned in Mangaung and Thaba Nchu. The partial vehicle recovery today comes just days after their bodies were discovered in the same river this week. The search began after vehicle debris believed to be from the constables' missing VW Polo was found near the river on April 28. The recovery followed days of tireless searching by a high-level SAPS task team across Gauteng, Limpopo, and the Free State. Investigators tracked a route from the Grasmere Toll Plaza on the N1, through the Buccleuch interchange, and onto John Voster Drive before locating key evidence near the river. Five bodies were recovered from the Hennops River during an intensive two-day search for three missing police constables earlier this week. Among the dead were Constables Senoge, Cebekhulu, and Buys, along with a Lyttelton police station employee who was driving a Renault Kangoo van, and a fifth, still-unidentified, decomposed body. A memorial service will be held at noon on Tuesday, May 6, at Bobbiespark in Bloemfontein. Police also confirmed that the two additional bodies found in the Hennops River are not connected to the three missing Free State constables. National Police Commissioner General Fanie Masemola said there is no connection between the three Free State constables and the two other bodies that were found during the police's large-scale search in the Hennops River. After the recovery of the VW Polo from the river, General Masemola said police are investigating a case of culpable homicide. Masemola closed by stating, 'At this stage, it looks like an accident until we finalise and the forensics have thoroughly investigated the car. Let the public be assured that this is what we have for now. For now, there is nothing sinister that we physically have seen in terms of, let's say, being shot, bullets, nothing. But, of course, there are injuries. Doctors will tell us exactly when they finalise their autopsies.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- The Citizen
Trio found in Hennops River to be buried next week, joint memorial service on Tuesday
The trio's joint memorial service will be held on Tuesday at Bobbies Park in Bloemfontein, Free State. The trio's joint memorial service will be held on Tuesday at Bobbies Park in Bloemfontein, Free State. Constable Boipelo Senoge will be buried on Thursday, Constable Cebekhulu Lindaon Friday and Constable Keamogetswe Buys on SaturdaY. Pictures: Supplied. The three constables found in Hennops River in Centurion will have a joint memorial service on Tuesday, while they will have separate funeral services. Free State provincial premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, MEC Jabu Mbalula, and provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane announced the funeral arrangements on Friday. 24-year-old Constable Cebekhulu Linda, 30-year-old Constable Keamogetswe Buys, and 20-year-old Constable Boipelo Senoge went missing for days, before their lifeless bodies were recovered from Hennops River on Wednesday, 29 April 2025. The trio's joint memorial service will be held on Tuesday at Bobbies Park in Bloemfontein, Free State. Constable Senoge will be buried on Thursday, Cebekhulu on Friday and Buys on Saturday. 'We are here to support you and to also let you know that we are equally pained by your loss. We will travel this journey together because those three souls were our children, and we also feel the pain that you are feeling,' said Letsoha-Mathae. The three constables were travelling from Bloemfontein to Limpopo when they went missing. Their lifeless bodies were found with two others, one of an admin clerk from the Lyttelton Police Station in Centurion and one unidentified person. ALSO READ: WATCH: Mchunu pleads with public to stop speculating about constables' deaths Last known location Police launched an investigation after the trio's cellphones and vehicle tracker went turned off. National police commissioner Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the constables' last known location was at the Engen garage near the Grasmere toll plaza on the N1 south of Johannesburg on a Wednesday. 'The members were off duty at the time and did not make it to their area of deployment.' The discovery of the trio was driven by a 24-hour venue operational centre (VOC) and a full-scale search with a high-level team of detectives and crime intelligence operators from Gauteng and the Free State. How the trio was found National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, during a media briefing, said the high-level Saps team spent sleepless nights for six days combing through Gauteng, Free State and Limpopo searching for the missing police officers. The commissioner said the investigation and search led them to Hennops River, where officers found pieces of vehicle parts believed to be a VW Polo along the N1. This discovery led officers to the banks of the river, where they located a Renault Kangoo panel van. 'We don't want to speculate at this stage what led to the discovery of these bodies in this river, whether it was an accident or not. Our investigation will reveal those aspects once we find their vehicle,' the commissioner said. Vehicle found On Thursday, police recovered the car the trio were travelling in from Hennops River, after parts of the car were found a day before. Mathe confirmed that the car pulled from the river is the one the police have been searching for. 'The vehicle chassis number confirms this is the vehicle that Saps has been searching for,' said Mathe. NOW READ: Vehicle parts retrieved from Hennops River a day after cop bodies found
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- The Citizen
Part of missing vehicle found in Hennops River
Police divers have recovered the back part of the VW Polo that the three Free State constables were travelling in when they were reported missing and later found deceased in the Hennops River. The front part of the vehicle was recovered on Thursday, May 1. The three police constables disappeared on April 23 while travelling from Bloemfontein to their deployment area in Limpopo. Constables Cebekhulu Linda (24), Boipelo Senoge (24), and Keamogetswe Buys (30) will each be buried on separate days between May 8 and 10, with memorial and funeral services planned in Mangaung and Thaba Nchu. The partial vehicle recovery on May 3, comes just days after their bodies were discovered in the same river this week. The search began after vehicle debris believed to be from the constables' missing VW Polo was found near the river on Monday, April 28. The recovery followed days of tireless searching by a high-level SAPS task team across Gauteng, Limpopo, and the Free State. Investigators tracked a route from the Grasmere Toll Plaza on the N1, through the Buccleuch interchange, and onto John Voster Drive before locating key evidence near the river. Five bodies were recovered from the Hennops River during an intensive two-day search for three missing police constables earlier this week. #sapsHQ [UPDATE] Police divers have just found the back part of the VW Polo in the Hennops River, which the three constables were travelling in. NP — SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) May 3, 2025 Among the dead were Constables Senoge, Cebekhulu, and Buys, along with a Lyttelton police station employee who was driving a Renault Kangoo van, and a fifth, still-unidentified, decomposed body. A memorial service will be held at noon on Tuesday, May 6, at Bobbiespark in Bloemfontein. Police also confirmed that the two additional bodies found in the Hennops River are not connected to the three missing Free State constables. National Police Commissioner General Fanie Masemola said there is no connection between the three Free State constables and the two other bodies that were found during the police's large-scale search in the Hennops River. After the recovery of the VW Polo from the river, General Masemola said police are investigating a case of culpable homicide. Masemola closed by stating, 'At this stage, it looks like an accident until we finalise and the forensics have thoroughly investigated the car. Let the public be assured that this is what we have for now. For now, there is nothing sinister that we physically have seen in terms of, let's say, being shot, bullets, nothing. But, of course, there are injuries. Doctors will tell us exactly when they finalise their autopsies.' ALSO READ: R100K reward offered, as NPC requests top cops intervention in missing journalist and partner case Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
