A MAN was found not guilty of endangerment but guilty of dangerous driving arising out of a road traffic collision in which the man’s friend and a cyclist were killed.
William Faulkner (24), of Caherdavin Heights, Limerick, pleaded not guilty to both charges at his trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
A jury of seven men and five women delivered unanimous verdicts in respect of both charges after they deliberated for a total of 77 minutes.
It was the prosecution’s case that Mr Faulkner and his friend, Patrick O’Reilly, Castletroy, Limerick, had been racing one another in their cars just after midnight on June 26, 2020, between Southill and Hyde Road in Limerick City.
During the alleged race, Mr O’Reilly (17) died after he lost control of his car and struck a tree and a male cyclist, Libyan native Saad Al Werfally (36), who was killed in the collision at the Hyde Road.
Prosecuting barrister, John O’Sullivan BL, instructed by State Solicitor for Limerick City Padraig Mawe, told the jury that Mr Faulkner drove his car in a manner that was intentionally reckless, including with speed, which created a substantial risk of death or serious injury to other road users.
Mr Faulkner was never accused of causing the deaths of Patrick O’Reilly or Mr Al Werfally, Mr O’Sullivan had told the jury.
The prosecuting barrister had said Mr Faulkner and Mr O’Reilly were each driving a Volkswagen Passat car and met up in the Southill area around midnight.
Mr O’Sullivan alleged that Mr Faulkner and Patrick O’Reilly “drove in convoy” together towards the Hyde Road and that Mr Faulkner was “driving too fast”.
The prosecution barrister told the jury that Patrick O’Reilly’s car “went to overtake” Mr Faulkner’s car and “lost control of his car, mounted a footpath or kerb, and struck and collided with a man who had been cycling”.
“Patrick O’Reilly struck and killed Mr Werfally. Patrick O’Reilly struck a tree, his car effectively wrapped itself around the tree, resulting in the death of Mr Werfally,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
“Very tragically, two men were killed, the cyclist and the youth, Patrick O’Reilly,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
After just over an hour of deliberations, the jury returned unanimous verdicts, not guilty of endangerment and guilty of dangerous driving.
Judge Colin Daly remanded Mr Faulkner on continuing bail to appear in court again for sentence on July 20.