A motorist jailed for three years for causing the death of a 15-year-old girl admitted he was “showing off” when he performed a series of hand- brake turns before a tragic crash which claimed the life of his young passenger.
Amy St John, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, was one of three passengers in a Honda Civic car in July 2010 when it clipped a ditch and rolled a number of times on a straight stretch of road outside Feohanagh, Co Limerick.
Peter Brouder (23), Castleview Park, Strand, Co Limerick, was given a three- year jail sentence and disqualified from driving for 20 years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
During a victim impact statement,Thomas St John said his “beautiful, kind and caring child” had sat her Junior Cert exams just weeks before her death. Her ambition was to be a social worker.
“One of the hardest days for our family was the day we received her Junior Certificate results,” he said. “What should have been a day of joy and celebration was unbearable as we realised the excellent results she received would never be of use to her.
Judge Carroll Moran said a car was a lethal weapon and if not managed properly, “it can do catastrophic damage like a gun can”.