Limerick businessman drove Porsche at ‘reckless speed’ in city estate

A MAN who crashed his Porsche into several parked vehicles at a housing estate in Limerick, following a visit to his son’s grave, has appeared in court.

During a sentencing hearing, Judge Colin Daly was told the man had pleaded guilty to criminal damage and endangerment at Greenview Estate on February 21, 2024.

Gardaí were called to the estate in the evening after the man had driven at a “reckless speed, up to 80 miles per hour” and had crashed into four vehicles in the estate.

When gardaí came upon the scene the man was found passed out and unconscious on the ground.

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A victim impact statement was read from a woman whose van was crashed into. It was detailed by Barrister John O’Sullivan, prosecuting, that the woman’s van was hit with such force that it collided with her house, causing thousands of euros of “structural damage” to the property, which was relatively new.

The woman’s statement read that following the incident, she “can’t sleep properly” and is “constantly on edge”.

It cost her €10,000 to replace the van. Another resident’s BMW was damaged to the value of €15,000. The court heard that the accused man’s insurance has since covered the loss.

In mitigation, Barrister Yvonne Quinn, said that before travelling to the housing estate, the man had visited his son’s graveside and had taken cocaine and alcohol.

Ms Quinn said her client was “triggered” when he read in the media, the night before, about two young men who had died in a road traffic accident as his own son passed away in a similar manner a number of years previously.

Limerick Circuit Court heard that the man lives near the city, owns a successful business in Limerick, and has worked his whole life.

Ms Quinn outlined her client has been in therapy for several years to help cope with the loss of his son. It was also detailed that he attends AA meetings, suffers from depression, and regularly attends therapy.

The barrister said that the man’s behaviour was completely out of character on the night of the crime, and that he deeply regrets his actions.

At the first mention of his son’s accident, the man began to cry - and he continued to weep throughout court proceedings.
It then emerged that he previously came before the district court for a different offence, which the prosecution brought up during Ms Quinn’s plea of mitigation.

The man did not mention this to his counsel or to the psychologist who gave a report to the court.

Judge Daly then proceeded to adjourn the case for sentencing.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme