Man jailed for drink driving after fatal accident in north Dublin

A retired psychiatric nurse from Tipperary has been jailed for two years for killing an 87-year-old man while drink driving in north Dublin.

Benedict Brady was struck while crossing the road on a dark and wet evening in Portrane on January 21, 2010.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that Gerard Brett, aged 65, was swerving and driving erratically when his car knocked Mr Brady seven feet in the air.

The victim was taken to hospital but died six days later having never regained consciousness.

Mr Brett had been drinking whiskey. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, and drink driving.

The court heard he is now on dialysis because of chronic liver failure and that prison will be very hard for him.

Judge Martin Nolan jailed him for two years and disqualified him from driving for three years.