Courts / Kildare / Report
Dangerous driver "sought to blame" girlfriend for crash that killed her
Summary
James O'Donovan, 30, of Athy, Co. Kildare, is appealing a conviction and seven‑year prison sentence for dangerous driving that caused the deaths of his girlfriend Rosanna Potts, 22, and Teresa Kiely, 49, on 27 December 2012. The case was heard at Naas Circuit Criminal Court, where a jury found O'Donovan guilty of causing the fatal crash on a straight, dry stretch of road in daylight. The car veered into a ditch, travelled along it, then zig‑zagged back onto the road, spinning three times before colliding with a second vehicle carrying Kiely and her daughter. O'Donovan claimed his girlfriend was arguing with him and that she had pulled at his hoodie, but the court described his attempt to blame her as "utterly reprehensible." In the appeal, his counsel argued that conflicting forensic collision expert opinions left the exact cause of the accident uncertain and that the jury should have chosen the version most favourable to the accused. James O'Donovan pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dangerous driver "sought to blame" girlfriend for crash that killed her. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing the deaths of Rosanna Potts (22), his girlfriend and passenger, as well as Teresa Kiely (49), who was travelling with her daughter in another car, at Youngstown, Athy, on December 27, 2012. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- December 27, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-06-20 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: dangerous driving causing the deaths of Rosanna Potts (22), his girlfriend and passenger, as well as Teresa Kiely (49), who was travelling with her daughter in another car, at Youngstown, Athy, on December 27, 2012 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Potts." Opening an appeal against conviction and sentence, O'Donovan's barrister, Damien Colgan SC, said his side couldn't give a definitive answer to how the accident took place and there were conflicting opinions from two forensic collision experts.
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