'Evil eye' driver jailed for year

A man who drove a van into a teenager during a drug-induced psychosis and claimed he did it because the victim gave him the ‘evil eye’ has been given a 12-month suspended sentence and an 18-month driving ban at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Larry Thornton (aged 37), of Champions Avenue, Dublin 1, told gardaí he thought "God and the Blessed Mother" were in the van with him and that had not slept well and was hearing voices.

He pleaded guilty to intentionally and recklessly driving a vehicle at 17-year-old Philip Nelson, causing substantial risk of death or serious harm in Ballydowd, Lucan on September 21, 2003.

Garda Kevin Griffin told Mr Colm O Briain BL, prosecuting, that Mr Nelson was walking to work at noon that day and woke up in hospital three days later unaware of what had happened to him. He suffered injuries to his back and head.

A witness told gardaí that a van mounted the pavement and struck Mr Nelson before driving on.

Garda Griffin said Thornton contacted gardai from the Mater Hospital that evening. He said he had left home at 8.30am and had been driving around in his van. He said he had not known where he was going or what he what he was doing.

Thornton told gardaí that he stopped at a ‘Texaco’ garage for petrol and saw Mr Nelson, whom he did not know, give him the "evil eye". He got into his van and drove it onto the pavement, striking him.

He drove to his sister’s home and was later taken to the Mater Hospital. He spent two months in a psychiatric facility from that time.

Garda Griffin said Thornton made a statement to gardaí in December 2003 in which he said he had suffered from stress and hallucinations since 2002 for which he had received some treatment.

He told gardaí he noticed damage to his van and realised he must have been in an accident but had no memory of such.

Judge Joseph Matthews heard that Mr Nelson, who did nothing to provoke the attack, has received on-going physiotherapy for his back injuries and made a good recovery.

Mr Fergal Foley BL, defending, said his client, who has no previous convictions, suffered a "drug induced psychotic episode" due to cannabis use and was under ongoing psychiatric care.

Judge Matthews banned Thornton from driving for 18 months and suspended a 12-month jail term on condition that he enter into a good behaviour bond and undergo drug testing for 18 months.