5 years for fatal van ramming of niece Marguerita

O'Donoghue ploughed into gates high on drink and drugs

- BY DAVID RALEIGH

Margaret O'Rourke's funeral in December 2016

A MAN who was high on a cocktail of drink and drugs jailed yesterday after he admitted dangerous driving causing the death of his niece.

Danny O'Donoghue, 43, had been off an alcohol and cocaine binge when he rammed into eight-foot gates which Marguerita O'Rourke was behind.

Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard the 21-year-old had given birth to her first child three weeks before.

Defence counsel John Bowman said his client was “unaware” Ms O'Rourke was behind the gates in Rathkeale, Co Limerick, on December 21, 2024.

Jailing him for five-and-a-half years with the last six months suspended, Judge Colin Daly said it was clear he “intentionally and deliberately rammed the gates” but accepted he had not intended to cause harm.

He told the court: “Marguerita was a new wife and mother. Her son was just three weeks old, and the tragedy of her death was compounded by the fact O'Donoghue was her uncle.

“For one member of a family to cause the death of another only adds to the family’s grief.

Minutes prior to the fatal hit and run, O'Donoghue had an argument with his wife and had driven from their home in a rage.