One witness told gardaí Conor McKinley was “driving like a lunatic” before the initial collision, while the driver of the second car he hit said his car towards her “like a train”.
Dundalk Circuit Court has heard two people who were travelling to visit a dying family member when their car was hit by a drunk driver, who collided with a total of three cars, had to listen to him abuse them and hospital staff in the Emergency Department they were taken to, where he claimed his barrister would get him out of trouble.
Conor McKinley (45) of Blackberry Way, Dublin Road, Dundalk pleaded guilty endangerment at Mooretown, Dromiskin on October 18th 2022 and also admitted dangerous driving and failing to offer assistance to the woman and her father.
The defendant, who was driving a Mercedes, struck the first car as it was turning into a drive way.
The woman injured in that collision, told gardaí he was “driving like a lunatic” and didn’t even slow down after the impact.
Shortly up the road, another woman who was driving her dad to hospital where her maternal grandfather was dying, saw the accused coming towards them ‘like a train’. He drove straight into them, sending the car spinning six times before it hit a wall 100 metres away.
A third victim, was travelling in the opposite direction, saw the Mercedes come around a bend on the wrong side of the road sideways – with smoke coming from the wheels. It hit the verge, overcorrected and collided with the back of the second vehicle before hitting the third car, taking off the back axle.
Conor McKinley attempted to flee the scene and was found heavily intoxicated lying on the ground of a shed nearby.
In his victim impact statement, the father said he has been left with a scar on his forehead as a permanent and visible reminder of the crash and he told how he and his daughter had to endure the defendant boasting that his barrister was going to get him out of trouble.
His daughter said she believed she was going to die and was trapped for two and a hours before being freed by fire and rescue personnel. She added the trauma continued in hospital where she was forced to listen to McKinley shout abuse at them and staff in the E.D.
The Defence barrister said the father of three was suffering from addiction issues – particularly alcohol.
A probation officer who prepared a report in February expressed concern that the defendant was downplaying his use of alcohol and minimising his own behaviour. He was assessed at being at high risk of reoffending given his alcohol and substance misuse and anti-social associates.
The defendant was described as having little insight or remorse and was lacking in empathy for the victims.
The court noted he entered a residential treatment course in Smarmore, Ardee in 2023 and had tried engaging with AA and using an anti-alcohol drug but had relapsed and continued to take alcohol and there was a level of denial regarding his alcohol dependency and its impact on his life.
However Judge Dara Hayes noted that the defendant had since then engaged with a four week residential programme at St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services in Dublin for multiple substance misuse. The Probation Service was prepared to supervise him should the court request that and was recommending a 12 week residential programme.
He said the offending happened against a background of the defendant being substantially above the drink driving limit and it was highly aggravating that he kept going rather than stopping after the first impact, which resulted in the second more serious collision.
The judge acknowledged Mr McKinley has begun to take steps in regard to his rehabilitation and the remorse expressed in court on his behalf “albeit somewhat late in coming”
JudgeHayes imposed a sentence of four years and nine months for the endangerment charge, with the final 18 months suspended and six month concurrent sentences for the three other charges, along with an eight year driving ban.