DRINK-DRIVER JAILED FOR 18 MONTHS AFTER HE LEFT VICTIM IN WHEELCHAIR

November 10, 2011

A Kilmacrennan man left another man in a wheelchair after he smashed into him after drinking five pints of beer before driving home in his jeep.

Manus ‘Mandy’ Sweeney was left with horrific injuries after he was struck by a jeep being driven by Brian Rodden on September 1st, 2009.

Rodden had consumed five pints at the Millbridge Bar before trying to drive just over a mile to his home.

However Rodden’s jeep veered across the road just outside Kilmacrennan village and struck Mr Sweeney’s van head-on.

Mr Sweeney had to be cut form his van and was rushed to Letterkenny General Hospital before being transferred to a Dublin hospital for treatment.

The court was told that Mr Sweeney, 63, was initially a wheelchair but now needs crutches to get around on and was more-or-less housebound.

The court also heard how Rodden has since been charged with ANOTHER case of drink-driving which is also before the courts.

Rodden told the court that he had tried to phone his victim but Mr Sweeney’s wife said she did not think it was a good idea.

He told Letterkenny Circuit Court “I’m very sorry for what has happened to him and his family and if I could take it back I would.”

Barrister Peter Nolan said his client is trying to come to terms with his drinking and is attending addiction services.

Judge John O’Hagan said it was a tragedy for both sides in the case because he did not think Rodden was a man who would normally come before the courts.

However he said it troubled him greatly that the accused had another drink-driving case “in the pipeline.”

He sentenced Rodden to 18 months in prison for dangerous driving causing serious injury and suspended the last six months.

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