In a case that has been termed “every parent’s worst fear”, a judge recalled the fateful incident leading to the tragic demise of two youths in Northern Galway the previous year. Judge Brian O’Callaghan offered his remarks at the Galway Circuit Court while overseeing the penalty proceeding of a 15-year-old lad. The boy had confessed to the dual charges of lethal dangerous driving.
Two 14-year-olds, Kirsty Bohan and Lukas Joyce, lost their lives as a result of a lone vehicle mishap that unfolded at Glennagarraun, Headford in the early hours of Easter Monday on April 10th, 2023.
The same juvenile pleaded guilty to causing severe physical injury to a girl in her teens due to his reckless driving from the same occurrence. He also accepted charges for driving without insurance and operating a mechanically propelled machine without gaining approval from its rightful owner, Christy Bohan.
Following the case proceedings which presented pieces of evidence, the presiding judge, O’Callaghan, suggested that a detention verdict would not be fitting. He thus decided to issue an order to bind the guilty party to maintain peace, as instructed in section 98 of the Children’s Act.
The court was informed of the crash taking place around 5.40 am. The accident resulted when the Volkswagen Passat, commandeered by the then 13-year-old, collided with a tree shortly after negotiating a bend on the L6127 – a lesser known countryside road.
Lukas Joyce, who occupied the front passenger seat, lost his life on the spot, whereas Kirsty Bohan breathed her last shortly afterwards at University Hospital Galway.
A 15-year-old girl, who miraculously survived the calamity, is said to have suffered extensive injuries. Constable Donal Hallinan, during his court appearance, confirmed that the driver was not under influence of drugs or alcohol. According to him, the incident occurred amid dark and wet weather conditions with intermittent rain showers.
The police discovered during their investigation that the quartet had planned their nocturnal outing via Snapchat. Officer Hallinan stated that Kirsty had waited for her father to go to work before driving the Passat to rendezvous with her friends.
The court learned that the girl, who managed to survive the accident, was the only individual from the group who hadn’t been at the wheel of the car on that unfortunate morning. In the courtroom, the details emerged that the boy, who was driving right before the fatal crash and is now 15 years old, fully cooperated with the police officials.
Expressing his bewilderment about the sudden incident, the boy recalled to the police, “I was taking a turn, and suddenly the car sped up. I tried but failed to stop it.”
The court was also presented with the background details regarding the two victims.
Garda Hallinan confirmed that before the tragic accident, the young group was merely having “a harmless fun”. Defence barrister, Michael F Collins SC, added this, suggesting that the joyride was anything but reckless in the period leading up to the catastrophic collision.
Hallinan also agreed that the boy held a clean record thus far, showing remorse and “at every point” was ready to accept his accountability for the tragedy.
In handing down his decision, Judge O’Callaghan acknowledged the incredible “specific and tragic” damage caused.
“This is quite straightforwardly the most extreme fear of every parent,” he shared.
Trying to comfort the grieving families, Judge O’Callaghan reassured them, stating that “parents are in no way to be blamed for the incident. This case already has enough victims”.
He made considerations for the boy’s tender age, clean history, and the absence of alcohol or substances. In the presence of his mum, the boy gave his word to abide by the law.