Man convicted of dangerous driving causing death has final year of sentence suspended

A Co Limerick man whose dangerous driving caused the death of his teenage friend has had a year suspended from his three-year jail term on appeal.

Daniel Copse (aged 21) from Collins Park, Abbeyfeale, was convicted following the single vehicle collision at Skehenerin Lower, Listowel, Co Kerry on July 24, 2008.

Sixteen- year-old Matthew O'Connor died when he was thrown from the back seat of the car which spun out of control and overturned a number of times ending up on its roof.

He was being driven home from a night out by his friend Daniel Copse, who attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at the scene and was heard saying "what have I done?".

His trial heard the then teenager was driving at excessive speed and that his Toyota Starlet had worn rear tyres which contributed to the accident.

Today on appeal, his lawyers failed to overturn his conviction for dangerous driving causing death.

However the three-judge court suspended the final year of his three-year sentence finding the trial judge had attached insufficient weight to his remorse at the scene and his lack of previous convictions.