Courts / Dublin / Report

Victim's widow holds up photo of husband to dangerous driver

Date
2019-01-14

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Michael Jones (25), a roofer from Whitestown Drive, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu at Blanchardstown Road South on November 17, 2015. The jury returned a guilty verdict on day nine of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last December 19, after deliberating for just over two and a half hours. In her victim impact statement, Mr Qu's widow expressed the profound impact of her husband's death on her family, including her children who are too young to understand death. She stated that her husband's parents had not seen their son in ten years by the time they saw him lying dead in the hospital. She asked the court to picture an old man shouting and screaming at his son to wake up. She said she wanted justice and for the law in Ireland to be seen as truthful, with the person who made the mistake taking responsibility. After reading her statement, she held up a photo of her husband to Jones and shouted that she wanted him to see how young Mr Qu had been at the time of his death. Sergeant Stephen Byrne told Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that Mr Qu was driving home from work when his car was struck by an Audi A3 driven by Jones. Mr Qu sustained serious injuries and was brought to James Connolly Hospital in Dublin where he was pronounced dead. Sgt Byrne said that gardaí were able to determine that Jones had driven through a red light and had been travelling between 115km/h and 137km/h at the point of collision. The speed limit of roads in the area was 60km/h, the court heard. Jones was taken from the scene by men who put him into a Volkswagen Passat and drove him to a hospital, where they left him lying on the ground. Jones gave a false name and said he had injured his leg in a fall. Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said his client wished to express his remorse for his actions. Mr Dwyer submitted that this case fell in the medium range of offending and that a term of imprisonment of four or five years would be appropriate. Jones has no previous convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the matter for finalisation this Thursday, January 17.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Victim's widow holds up photo of husband to dangerous driver. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu at Blanchardstown Road South on November 17, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 17, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
December 19 Hearing Or Sentence
Thursday, January 17 Adjournment
2019-01-14 Publication

Why: She said because they are too young to understand death she tells them that he is a "hero". CNI source report

Case subjects

Michael Jones

Defendant

Charges: dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu at Blanchardstown Road South on November 17, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Mr Dwyer submitted that this case fell in the medium range of offending and that a term of imprisonment of four or five years would be appropriate.; Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the matter for finalisation this Thursday, January 17.