‘I know there is nothing I can do about it now’

A young driver “took his friend’s life” when he lost control at a junction and crashed into the pillar of a house in Co Cork.

Before 23-year-old Paddy Buckley — who had been drinking all night with friends — approached the junction near Macroom sometime after 6am, he turned to his passengers and said: “Will I go for it?”

According to gardaí, Buckley’s Renault Megane, travelling at between 80 and 100km/h, crossed the junction, spun out of control, and struck the pillar.