Limerick father who was 'steaming drunk' during crash killing truck driver jailed

A 57-year-old father of five was sentenced after being convicted of dangerous driving causing death and a related drunk driving charge. He drove a Volkswagen Passat into the front of a lorry on the N69 at about 2.50am on March 18, 2022, killing the truck driver, Arturs Birznieks. The court heard he continued to deny he was drunk and denied causing the collision. The judge imposed an eight-year prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended, along with a ten-year road ban, and imposed a concurrent six-month sentence for the drunk driving conviction. The judge said he showed no remorse and gained no insight. The truck was carrying 6,000 live chickens and the driver died instantly in the impact.

"Judge Simon McAleese imposed an eight-year prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended, plus a ten year road ban, after O'Halloran's conviction for dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Birznieks. The judge imposed a concurrent six-month sentence on O'Halloran after his drunk driving conviction."

"In sentencing O'Halloran, the judge said: "Mr O'Halloran has not shown a single jot of remorse, and he appears to have gained no insight into his offending." After the sentences were announced, O'Halloran shouted to his family that were sitting in the courtroom to support him: "I'll appeal that, that's a fucking disgrace.""

"O'Halloran, of Woodfield Drive, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, continues to deny he was drunk and that he caused the fatal collision at N69, Reens East, Ardagh, Co Limerick, at 2.50am, March 18, 2022. O'Halloran had denied the two charges but was found guilty by a jury after a nine-day trial last March."

"The court had heard O'Halloran's car struck the front of the truck on Mr Birznieks side, which "left Mr Birznieks helpless" as the steering was destroyed, said Ms Buckley, instructed by Brendan Gill, State Solicitor for Co Limerick, assisted by paralegal Sarah Heavenor. The truck then collided with a wall and was subsequently crushed by its own trailer which had been carrying 6,000 live chickens. Mr Birznieks died instantly in the impact."

Read at Irish Independent