The family of a 17-year-old Leaving Cert student from Tipperary who was killed in a car crash in County Limerick has spoken of its overwhelming grief and heartache following his death.
Kieran Quigley from Rearcross died from head injuries he suffered in the crash at Grange Cross on the N24 Limerick to Tipperary road on the 12th of June 2012.
A probation report has been ordered for 28-year-old Dennis Brennan – also from Rearcross – who has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his friend.
Kieran Quigley was the back seat passenger in a car which collided with another car around 9pm that evening.
The car, driven by Dennis Brennan had failed to heed a stop sign and hit the other car driving on the main road outbound from Limerick city.
Limerick Circuit Court heard on the day Brennan had been on a drinking expedition around East Limerick, with his brother Sean, Kieran Quigley and another friend Michael Manning.
Brennan says he's devastated by causing his friend's death and he's in a bad nightmare he can't wake up from.
Defence Counsel Michael Bowman said speed was not a factor in the crash and also pointed out that the surface coating on the road, its gradient and the ABS not working on the car as factors as to why his clients didn't stop at the sign.
In her victim Impact Statement Kieran's sister Carol Wixted said the family is devastated at Kieran's death, as he was the glue that kept the family together. He was just 17, with his entire life ahead of him.
A probation report has been ordered and the case has been adjourned until the 16th of June for sentencing.
