Nine months for learner driver who killed teenager

An unaccompanied learner driver who was speeding when he hit and killed a teenager has been jailed for nine months.

Gareth Jones, aged 22, swerved to avoid three of the boy’s friends as they crossed the road but hit Paul McCormack, aged 16, who had changed direction to try and get back to the path.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard there was a fault with the ABS braking system in his Toyota Avensis but there was no indication Jones was aware of this. The car had a valid NCT.