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.