Jury clears motorcyclist over fatal crash

A 23-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist was acquitted by a jury of dangerous driving causing the deaths of two men in a crash between his and another motorcycle, on June 1, 2008.

Con Scannell, of Dereenduff, Duagh, Co Kerry, had pleaded not guilty to charges arising from the deaths of his pillion passenger Owen McGillicuddy, 19, and of David Flynn, 35, the driver of the other motorcycle, at Bealkilla, Lixnaw, on the occasion.

The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict at the Circuit Criminal Court, sitting in Tralee, but convicted the accused of driving with excess alcohol. He was remanded in custody by Judge Carroll Moran until Thursday for sentencing on that charge. He had been found to have a blood/alcohol reading of 130mg, 50mg over the legal limit.