A 19-year-old Cork city man who started a train of events leading to the deaths of two teenagers was sentenced to three years in jail yesterday when he admitted charges relating to the unlawful taking of a car.
The car stolen by David O'Callaghan, Fair Hill Drive, on St Patrick's Day two years ago was later involved in an accident in which two teenage boys were killed, Cork Circuit Criminal Court was told.
Although he started "this tragic train of events", O'Callaghan was not in the car when it crashed, said Det-Garda David Foley, outlining the case.
Another man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Trevor O'Connell and Stephen Kirby and will be sentenced later.
Det-Garda Foley said O'Callaghan took the car from Cork city-centre and drove it around before deciding it was unsafe as the brakes had failed. He then took it to a field, stole the stereo from it and left it.
In a statement, O'Callaghan said he used a screwdriver to break the locks of the car before hot-wiring it and driving it. After he had left it in the field, he saw it being driven by another man.
"I saw it bouncing around a corner, I knew he was in trouble and then I heard the crash," said O'Callaghan. It was only later that he learned one of those killed was his friend, Trevor O'Connell.
After making a full statement of admission to gardai with the support of his family, O'Callaghan went to England where he got work and remained until December 21st last, when he returned to Cork and was arrested.
In court he said he would never forget the events of March 17th, 1997.
"I was the person responsible for starting this chain of events and it has had a terrible effect on me. If I could turn the clock back, I would," he said. "Trevor was my friend. I feel very sorry for the two families."
Judge Anthony Murphy said the accused was very young when the incident took place and readily admitted his involvement. Nevertheless, those who took cars had to serve custodial sentences.
He said he would review the sentence in October, when he would expect O'Callaghan to make proposals for paying £3,500 compensation to the car-owner.