Fire chief breaks down in witness box

A FIRE chief broke down in the witness box at Limerick Circuit Court when he recalled the moment he realised he would have to break the news of the death of a fellow firefighter and a garda to their families.

Niall Shannon, aged 21, of Lenamore, Ballylongford, Co Kerry, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of firefighter Mike Liston, and Garda Brian Kelleher, at Borrigone, Akeaton, Co Limerick, on February 25, 2007.

The court was told at a previous trial last year that Shannon was convicted of driving with excess alcohol at the time, and the jury at that trial had failed to agree on a verdict on the dangerous driving causing death charge.