A 20-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to five years in jail and banned from driving for life, in what Judge Anthony Kennedy described as “the worst case of dangerous driving causing death that I have ever come across”.
Andrew Palmisano, from Kilnacourt, Portarlington, was charged at Tullamore Circuit Court with dangerous driving causing the deaths of 53-year-old taxi driver Jim Le Blanc, from Mountmellick, and Adam Zygadlo, a Polish national from Mountmellick. Another Polish passenger in the car was seriously injured in the accident at Garryhinch, Portarlington, on May 11th, 2008.
The defendant was also charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant, cannabis.
Leonie Reynolds, prosecuting, said the defendant had been driving a BMW towards Mountmellick, accompanied by three passengers, while Mr Le Blanc drove a Toyota towards Portarlington.
The court heard how the defendant’s brakes were seriously defective and he had failed to get them repaired, despite a local mechanic, Tony Whelan, warning him he could not repair his car until the brakes were replaced.
The court was also told there was a slight collision between the defendant’s car and another vehicle, and how he then continued, trying to overtake another car, when he collided with Mr Le Blanc’s taxi.
Sgt Elaine Horan said Palmisano had previous convictions for dangerous driving, drink-driving and driving without insurance.
Palmisano apologised to the families of the two deceased men and to the injured man.
Judge Kennedy said he was guilty of “criminal negligence” for turning a deaf ear to Mr Whelan’s advice on the condition of the car.
He sentenced Palmisano to five years for dangerous driving causing death, and disqualified him from driving for life on that charge. He imposed a concurrent six-month sentence for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, and imposed a two-year disqualification on that charge.