Teen admits role in hit and run which left nurse dead

A LIMERICK teenager was remanded to prison this week for sentencing, after he pleaded guilty to a fatal hit and run, killing a nurse. Keelan O’Connell, (19), Scanlon Park, Castleconnell, who was high on drugs at the time, admitted the charge before Judge Colin Daly, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. The victim, Aine O’Reilly, Pallasgreen, Co […]

A LIMERICK teenager was remanded to prison this week for sentencing, after he pleaded guilty to a fatal hit and run, killing a nurse.

Keelan O’Connell, (19), Scanlon Park, Castleconnell, who was high on drugs at the time, admitted the charge before Judge Colin Daly, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

The victim, Aine O’Reilly, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, died instantly when O’Connell collided with a car that was forced into the path of Ms O’Reilly’s car, as she travelled to work at Shannondoc, Limerick.

The fatal collision occurred at N24, Grange West, Boher, Co Limerick, on Friday, February 13, this year.

Investigating garda, Tony Burke, Henry Street Garda Station, told another court previously, that on the night, O’Connell was driving a “high powered” VW Golf “at excess speed” when he attempted to perform a “dangerous maneuver”, in the moments prior to the collision.

Garda Burke said O’Connell collided with a Peugeot car as he attempted to undertake it, forcing it into the path of Ms O’Reilly, who was driving a Nissan Micra.

The garda said O’Connell “fled the scene on foot” without offering assistance to Ms O’Reilly or the Peugeot driver.

O’Connell handed himself in to gardai the next day and he admitted during interviews under caution that he had been high on “cannabis” and “fast gas”, said Gda Burke.

Ms O’Reilly suffered “catastrophic injuries” and died at the scene, said Gda Burke.

After his arrest O’Connell was refused bail after strenuous objections were put forward in court from Gda Burke.

Garda Burke told the bail hearing that in his view, O’Connell would continue to commit further serious crimes, including dangerous driving, and that he would pose “a further risk of loss of life” to citizens, if he was allowed bail.

Although the collision occurred at 11.10pm, poor visibility was not a factor, the hearing heard.

Garda Burke said CCTV footage, dash cam footage, as well as statements provided from independent witnesses, provided “strong” evidence against O’Connell.

O’Connell told gardai he won the VW Golf in a raffle a few days prior to the fatal collision.

He did not make any reply when charged at Limerick District Court earlier this year.

This week O’Connell pleaded guilty to eight charges in total including dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to the Peugeot driver, hit-and-run charges of failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, and failing to report the collision to gardai, as well as driving without a licence, driving without insurance.

Judge Colin Daly remanded O’Connell in continuing custody for a sentence hearing in November.