Man weeps as he is sentenced for girlfriend's death

A young man who crashed a car causing the death of his own girlfriend wept in court today as he publicly apologised to her family.

He has been given a two-year suspended sentence and a ten-year driving ban.

His powerful BMW car went out of control at high speed as the couple travelled to West Cork to buy furniture for their new house.

John Goggin, 24, of 2 Park Lawn, Parklands, Commons Road, Cork, pleaded guilty today to dangerous driving causing the death of Susan Walsh, 25, at Rigsdale, Ballinhassig, County Cork, on February 24.

The 2.5 litre BMW 325 swerved and hit a concrete flower bed and overturned two-and-a-half times, landing on the roof and causing the almost instantaneous death of Susan Walsh who was a front seat passenger.

Goggin wept as he publicly apologised to the Walsh family and said they could not have done more for him since the tragic accident.

The deceased's father, Michael Walsh, asked for leniency for Goggin.

Judge Patrick J. Moran suspended a two-year jail sentence and banned Goggin from driving for ten years.

"You are obviously forgiven by the Walsh family. I think a custodial sentence would not be in your interests. You have suffered enough. And you will continue to suffer in the future," Judge Moran said.

Sergeant Rory O'Dwyer who investigated the case said that at 8.40pm on the date in question the couple were travelling from Cork to Bandon to buy furniture.

John Goggin was driving the 1996-registered black BMW.

He had passed a number of cars at speeds estimated by witnesses to have been between 70 and 80 miles per hour, shortly before the accident.

No other car was involved as the BMW went out of control as it approached plastic bollards near road works.

Goggin swerved to avoid the bollards and then struck the flowerbed and overturned.

Mr Goggin was completely sober at the time. There was never a suggestion that drink was a factor but speed was.

Defence senior counsel, Tom Creed, said: "By the grace of God he was not killed himself but unfortunately his partner, Susan, was killed."

Susan had three brothers and two sisters. Her father, Michael, spoke eloquently about his late beloved daughter.

Mr Walsh said: "She was nine days short of her 26th birthday. She and John had been going out for a number of years.. Speaking on behalf of myself and my wife, Breda, we saw her growing to a handsome teenager and then to a gorgeous young woman.

"She packed more into her short life than most of us do."