A WELSH farmer who drove through a red traffic light and killed an English business executive has been given a three-year suspended, sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Kenneth Pritchard (33), of Bryngwlran, Anglesey, has also been banned from driving in Ireland for five years and directed to pay £4,000, which he brought to court for his victim's widow.
Pritchard pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Robert Jarvis (29), a father of a then 10-month old son, of Milltown Road, Dublin, on September 26th, 1995.
Judge Kieran O'Connor was told by Mr Barry White SC, defending, that the victim's family received £500,000 insurance compensation in the High Court.
Garda Peter McBride told Mr George Birmingham, prosecuting, the accident happened sometime after 7 a.m. at Dodder Road, Rathfarnham. Pritchard was driving a horse-transporter and Mr Jarvis was alone in a Honda car.
Pritchard had been at a horse-jumping event in Cavan and was on his way to the ferry to return, home. His wife and young child were in the living quarters of the transporter, which also carried some horses.
Mr Jarvis was turning right towards Templeogue when Pritchard's vehicle struck him after going, through a filter-traffic light which had gone red. The deceased's car was extensively damaged at the driver side when rammed into a kerbside pole. Pritchard had no previous convictions.
Garda McBride agreed with Mr White the traffic light through which Pritchard went could be alternatively in and out of vision when approached over a distance. He agreed also that a witness on the book of evidence suggested it was obscured by foliage.
Mr White said if the case had been contested there would have been evidence that the traffic light in question went in and out of vision. His client believed the light was in his favour but by his guilty plea he accepted he had a responsibility in this matter.
This case was unusual compared to most dangerous driving cases, said Mr White. There was no element of drink involved, or of a stolen or uninsured vehicle, being used. It was not a case for custodial sanction. Pritchard would, have to live with it on his conscience for the rest of his life.
Judge O'Connor said he extended his sympathy to Mrs Sue Jarvis, the victim's widow who was in court. It was a tragic case, for her and her child and no" amount of money could fully compensate them.
He added that Pritchard should be grateful for the advice given by Mr White to plead guilty and thus avoid what would have been a most distressful trial for Mrs Jarvis.