Four teens hurt as boat slams into pillar of bridge

Four teenagers were hospitalised, one with a serious brain injury, after their motor boat slammed into the pillar of a bridge on the River Shannon.

Details of the accident were revealed at Mullingar Circuit Court sitting in Tullamore yesterday.

Boat driver Richard Coffey, who was 19 at the time of the crash and who is now 21, previously admitted a single charge of endangerment by recklessly engaging in conduct with a motor boat which created a substantial risk of serious injury or death.

Sergeant Sandra Keane told the court that on Jul 14, 2012, Coffey and some friends met up in Athlone.

It was getting dark at 10.32pm that night as they set out in a friend’s motorboat — a RIB.

Coffey, of Blackrock, Dublin, was joined by David Jinks, Mollie Henshaw, and Millie O’Donnell.

The boat was travelling at speed when it struck the pillar of the railway bridge spanning the Shannon and started to sink.

Mr Jinks was thrown into the water and the Athlone lifeboat had to be launched for a rescue operation.

Another boat owner also went to the aid of the teenagers.

Ms Henshaw suffered cuts and bruises, but Ms O’Donnell was knocked unconscious and suffered a bleed to the brain, said Sgt Keane.

All four on board had to be rushed to hospital in Ballinasloe, but all later recovered.

Ms O’Donnell spent nine days in hospital with a blood clot on the surface of her brain, but was restored to health and subsequently went on to play hockey for Ireland at under-age level.

Judge Tony Hunt said she had been very lucky and, by extension, so was Coffey.

The judge noted that Coffey had been operating “a vast and powerful item”.

He said: “If you’re going too fast, you’re not able to deal with things that are unexpected”

An investigation carried out by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board found the boat was in good working order and that Coffey had said that just before the accident he had been surprised by a moving buoy.

Sgt Keane said one of the girls had told gardaí the boat had altered course at the last minute and Coffey had said: “Watch this, Jinksy.”

Gerard Groarke, defending, told the court his client was experienced with boats and had been sailing from a very young age.

“It was a reckless piece of navigation that had far-reaching consequences for all involved,” he said.

Mr Groarke said that, following the collision, Coffey had seen to it that all three of his passengers were taken care of and brought safely ashore.

Coffey had said “I killed Millie, I killed Millie” and was crying.

Judge Hunt said he could not see how a custodial sentence would be warranted in the case. A suspended sentence would not mean anything either, he said.

He adjourned the case for the preparation of a report on the suitability of Coffey for community service.