Text messages sent on mobile before fatal impact

A MOBILE phone found in the driver’s side of a car after it struck and killed a firefighter and garda contained a number of text and phone messages made and received shortly before the fatal impact, a court heard.

Niall Shannon, 21, of Lenamore, Ballylongford, Co Kerry, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of firefighter Mike Liston, 47, and Garda Brian Kelleher, 46, at Barrigone, Asketon, Co Limerick, on February 25, 2007.

After being arrested at the scene Shannon gave a breath intoxaliser test which gave a reading of 55 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Garda Michael Reddy, in evidence yesterday at Limerick Circuit Court, said he found a mobile phone in the driver’s side of the car driven by the accused.

Sgt John Delaney, who is in charge of telecommunications at Henry Street Garda Headquarters said he was given the phone and he downloaded information stored on it.

He gave details of text and phone messages sent from the phone between 4.30am and 5.10am, shortly before the fatal impact, along with text messages received on the phone.

Sgt Peter Kelly said that when he interviewed Shannon in March 2007, Shannon said he had his mobile phone with him and it was attached to the cigarette lighter charger on a console near the gear stick.

He said he was driving “at the speed limit” at the time. Asked how he knew this as the speedometer of the car was not working, he said it was on 3,000 revs in fifth gear.

Sgt David Bourke said he took charge of Shannon after he was brought to Henry Street Garda Station after his arrest. He got a strong smell of drink from the accused. Shannon, he said, asked him a number of times about the condition of the garda.

Shortly before the accused was released from custody at 11.05am, he informed him the garda and a member of the fire service had died.

The trial continues.