Man jailed for murder also caused fatal crash

A MAN who was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year for the murder of a neighbour was yesterday given a three-year sentence when he admitted to dangerous and drink driving causing the death of his brother.

Richard Higgins, aged 42, of New Houses, Lattin, Co Tipperary, pleaded guilty to the charges which arose out of a fatal accident on February 9, 2009, when his car ploughed into the back of a cattle lorry at Newtown, Bruff. His brother died in the crash.

Earlier this year, a jury at the Central Criminal Court unanimously found Higgins guilty of the murder of his neighbour Sean Murphy, aged 29.

The murder trial, which lasted 12 days, heard Mr Murphy’s two children had screamed in terror as they watched the fatal attack on their father from the front window of their home, 2, New Houses, in January 2010.

Mr Murphy died after he was stabbed once by Higgins who attacked him with an ornamental dagger after drinking in a local pub.

Higgins, yesterday appeared at Limerick Circuit Court when he was sentenced for the charges in relation to the fatal crash.

Garda Annette Courtney, Bruff, said the accident happened when Higgins was driving a car with two passengers one of whom was his brother, Jude.

They had been at the mart in Kilmallock and drinking. Higgins’ car ploughed into the back of a parked cattle lorry at around 6.30pm.

Jude Higgins died as a result of his injuries.

A blood sample taken from Richard Higgins at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital after the accident gave a blood reading of 183/80.

Some days after the accident Higgins went to Bruff Garda Station where he gave a statement to gardaí in which he admitted driving and took responsibility for the accident.

He stated he had been at the mart in Kilmallock that day and had been drinking and had a very poor recollection of what had occurred. He remembered nothing after leaving Kilmallock.

Passing sentence, Judge Carroll Moran also banned Higgins from driving for 20 years.