Suspended sentence for driver who caused girl’s death

A teenager has been given a two-year suspended jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of an eight-year-old girl in west Cork last year.

Ian Lawlor O'Donovan (18) pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of Zoe Scannell at Burgatia, Rosscarbery, on June 26th, 2014.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a two-year suspended jail sentence on Lawlor O’Donovan and banned him from driving for six years.

Garda Brendan Cahill told the court that an eyewitness had told gardaí there was no excessive speed but that the teenager, who was driving his mother's car, lost control of the vehicle.

Alice Fawsett SC, defending, said her client had wanted for a long time to apologise in person to Alisha Scannell and her family and had done so by arrangement before sentencing.

Judge O Donnabháin said that Lawlor O Donovan, who is studying for his Leaving Certificate, was genuine in his remorse, not for himself but for the victim and her family.