Woman on trial over deaths of niece and nephew in crash

A WOMAN has gone on trial accused of dangerous driving causing the deaths of two children.

Vera Murden, aged 40, of Fatima Court, Dundalk, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of her niece, Jenna Murden, aged 4, and her nephew Jayden Murden, aged 1, who was a brother of Jenna.

Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court yesterday heard they were 2 of 5 children travelling with her in a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV which left the road and crashed into the wall of a former pub at the junction of Maxwell Row and Newry bridge in Dundalk. The accident happened just before 4pm on the January 31, 2009. Jenna died on February 24 and Jayden died on March 10.

A number of Garda witnesses who were at the accident scene said there were no child seats or booster seats to correctly restrain the children.

A motorist, who through his rear-view mirror saw the SUV hit the building, said he had first noticed it as it passed by him and he said its speed was “excessive”.

Shane Finnegan also said he saw it strike the building and he did not remember seeing the brake lights on.

However, when Mr Giolliosa Ó Lideadha, defending, put it to him that the lights he had seen on the vehicle could have been brake lights that were seen on a continuous basis because a foot was continuously pressed down on the pedal, Mr Finnegan said: “That’s possible, yes.”

At the time the SUV was travelling towards Dundalk town centre and a junction where the road naturally swung to the left.

Mr Finnegan was the first person at the scene and said there was a lot of smoke and he saw children in the back of the car.

The court heard he had lifted out a boy and then a girl and that other motorists who came on the scene also went to give help.

The accused sat sideways in the passenger seat of the car of motorist Carol Hutchinson. The witness said she asked her what happened and the accused replied she thought she took a fit of some sort.

Garda Sean O’Callaghan, Dundalk, was one of the first gardaí at the scene and he said there were no booster chairs or baby chairs to restrain the children.

The court heard the other children in the car were John, 10, Chloe, 8, and Conor, 8.

The trial continues before Judge Michael O’Shea.