Man, 22, to be sentenced over car crash that killed his two friends

Patrick Carroll pleaded guilty to drink driving and to dangerous driving

Patrick Carroll appeared before Judge Simon McAleese at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

A man who pleaded guilty to drink driving and to dangerous driving causing the deaths his two friends in Co Limerick is due to be sentenced on Friday.

Patrick Carroll, aged 22, with an address at Drinagh Fivealley, Birr, Co Offaly, appeared before Judge Simon McAleese at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Mr Carroll asked his legal counsel to surrender his bail, so sentencing could go ahead, despite the ongoing solicitor strike.

Darragh Dullea, aged 21, from Clonakilty, Co Cork, and Cillian Kirwan, aged 19, from Piltown, Co Kilkenny, died in the incident on the N69 at Ballyengland, near Askeaton, on February 20, 2024.

The car, driven by Mr Carroll, struck a wall. Mr Carroll and a third passenger required hospital treatment.

Mr Carroll previously pleaded guilty to three counts. One of dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Dullea, the second for dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Kirwan, and the third for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Prosecuting barrister, Lily Buckley told the court there was an “early intention to plead guilty” from Mr Carroll.

Ms Buckey said the two fatalities were on the passenger’s side of the car. 

The court heard how witnesses at the scene described how the driver, Mr Carroll, was “shouting”, saying “Wake up Darragh”.

Evidence found it was clear all passengers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the incident, and that airbags were deployed. 

The court heard how Mr Carroll lost control of the vehicle.

Mr Carroll's counsel, Brian McInerney, said his client has been “fully cooperative at all stages” of the case. 

He said Mr Carroll made a “very poor decision” on the night of the incident.

In her victim impact’s statement, Mr Kirwan’s mother, Sinéad Molloy, told the court her daughter Áine is the one who was at home when gardaí came to their home. 

As her daughter didn’t open the door, she was informed of the incident on the phone.

She described her son as a “beautiful boy”, who had a “bright future ahead of him”.

Ms Molloy said “nothing could have prepared me for this” when she identified her son after the incident, whom was “unrecognisable”.

The second statement was read by Ms Buckley on behalf of Mr Dullea's family and written by his sister Aoife.

She described Darragh as a brave young man, whose death has “caused unimaginable pain”.

“We have spent the last two and a half years surviving. Surviving the tremendous grief that greets us every morning and tucks us into bed each night, imagining the ‘what ifs’."

In mitigation, Mr McInerney asked the judge to consider the absence of previous convictions and said his client has shown “genuine remorse” throughout the proceedings.

He added Mr Carroll knows his actions resulted in his two friends passing away and that he hopes the families will take some degree of comfort knowing he acknowledges the hurt caused.

Judge McAleese told both families he will ensure to “take note of the victim impact statements” and do so as “promptly as I can”.

He adjourned sentencing to Friday at 10.30am.