Drunk driver faces sentence for causing death of pensioner

A drunk driver faces sentence in January for causing the death of a pensioner and seriously injuring a Garda near Ardrahan in South Galway last year.

Adrian Nestor, Keamsella, Kilcolgan, pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court to causing the death of Liam McDonnell (66) and causing serious bodily harm to Sharon Casserly, by driving dangerously at Ardrahan on Monday, February 1 last year.

He pleaded guilty also to driving while drunk and having a blood/alcohol reading of 272 mgs of alcohol per 100mls of blood at the time of the fatal collision.

Paul Flannery, SC, defending, asked for the preparation of a probation report and a psychiatric report on his client prior to sentence taking place.

Judge Rory McCabe directed the preparation of the relevant reports along with victim impact statements and remanded Nestor on continuing bail to January 18 next for sentence.

Garda Casserly and her colleague, Garda Peter Murtagh, had been involved in a search on Monday, February 1 last year for Mr McDonnell who had been reported missing from a nearby nursing home the previous night.

All three sustained serious injuries in a collision involving Nestor’s car on the N18, on the Galway side of Ardrahan around lunchtime on February 1 last year.

Mr McDonnell was pronounced dead  at the scene while both Gardai were removed to hospital.

For more on this story see the Connacht Tribune.