Man three times over limit when he crashed killing friend

A driver whose souped-up car smashed into a wall killing his friend was three times over the drink-driving limit and had been smoking cannabis on a daily basis at the time of the crash, Trim Circuit Court heard yesterday.

Vincent Cadden, aged 27, Ballinvalley, Oldcastle, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of front-seat passenger Colm Melia, 22, on October 5, 2014, at Fennor Upper, Oldcastle. The court heard that after returning home from a night out, Cadden picked up his friend for a spin in his modified Honda Civic. Cadden, a closed-track motor racer, had doubled the car’s horsepower . The car, which should not have been on a public road, was out of control turning at a T-junction and struck a wall, a stone pier, an embankment, and a telegraph pole.

Mr Melia died from his injuries, while Cadden suffered a ruptured spleen and broken ribs.

Judge Michael O’Shea jailed Cadden for six years.