Boyracer gets five years for crash that caused death of OAP travelling home from hospital

Stephen Dillon (31) of The Cottage, Gortgloghane, Listowel, pleaded guilty before Tralee Circuit Criminal Court to the charge of dangerous driving causing death of Dymphna Wynne at Doonryan, Killarney, and causing bodily harm to Brian Wynne.

Dympna, who was in her 80s, was travelling in a car with her daughter and husband when the tragic crash occurred on January 12, 2021.

The court was told that Mr Dillon finished work in Liebherr and drove in convoy, racing a considerable distance at high speeds, before crashing into the Wynne family vehicle.

Karen Uí Churtáin was brining her parents home from a hospital appointment when the vehicle driven by Mr Dillon lost control and crossed into her pathway after narrowly missing another vehicle.

"There was nothing she could do,” the court was told.

Mr Dillon’s car fish-tailed and moved from one side to the other.

The court was told that various witnesses on the road that day confirmed that racing was going on, and Mr Dillon confirmed that.

This racing resulted in devastating consequences, with the death of Mrs Wynne and traumatic injuries to her husband, who has since passed away.

Mr Dillon lives with is mother in Listowel and no longer works at Liebherr. He is a man of good character and he accepts the consequences of his actions, the Court heard.

He said he hopes the plea will save Karen the trauma and upset of a difficult court case.

He, too, suffered injuries, and a probation report indicates his “remorse and insight into the tragic lost of life which resulted out of his conduct".

The victim-impact statement by Karen Uí Churtáin said that she “left a piece of her at the roadside that day" and that “it can't be made right”.

"The loss of her mother can't be restored,” said Judge Sinead Behan, summing up the case.

Karen was also injured in the accident and, as a result, suffers pain, and this compromised her teaching career. She now works in a shared role.

Judge Behan said the aggravating factors included that this incident stemmed from a road race, which was a deliberate decision by Mr Dillon and not a momentary lapse. The race was over a long period and at speed, with “no regard for other motorists”.

She added that mitigating factors included his admission in interviews and that he was of good character, with low chance of re-offending. However, she said that she had to take into account that her decision should be a ‘deterrent’ to racing.

Mr Dillon was given a five-year sentence, with the final year suspended. He was also disqualified from driving for eight years. The jail sentence was back-dated to November 14, when he went into custody.