Courts / Kildare / Report
Kildare man who blamed his girlfriend for crash that killed her and another woman is jailed for seven years
Summary
James O'Donovan, 29, of Athy, County Kildare, was convicted of dangerous driving that caused the deaths of his girlfriend Rosanna Potts, 22, and Teresa Kiely, 49, at Youngstown, Athy on 27 December 2012. The crash occurred when O'Donovan's Pajero SUV appeared to drive into a ditch on its own side of the road before swerving into the middle of the road at high speed and striking Teresa Kiely's Toyota Prius. Teresa died at the scene; Rosanna was taken to Naas Hospital and later to The Mater Hospital, where she died three weeks later. O'Donovan pleaded not guilty, claiming that Potts was pulling on his hoodie and arguing with him, causing him to lose control. A Garda forensic investigator found no evidence of braking and said the crash was caused by O'Donovan attempting to manoeuvre at too high a speed. He had been previously convicted for dangerous driving that caused spinal injuries to another driver two months earlier.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Kildare man who blamed his girlfriend for crash that killed her and another woman is jailed for seven years. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing the deaths of Rosanna Potts, his girlfriend, who was sitting in the passenger seat of his car, and Teresa Kiely, who was travelling with her daughter in another car, at Youngstown, Athy on December 27, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- December 27, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-03-02 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: dangerous driving causing the deaths of Rosanna Potts, his girlfriend, who was sitting in the passenger seat of his car, and Teresa Kiely, who was travelling with her daughter in another car, at Youngstown, Athy on December 27, 2012 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; She refused a petition from Damien Colgan SC, defending, to suspend a part of the sentence.
Places mentioned
- Naas
- Naas Hospital
- The Mater Hospital
- Naas
- Naas Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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