To-be was killed by disqualified driver, court told

A bride-to-be was killed by a disqualified driver just hours after shopping for her wedding dress.

Laura Connolly died after she was struck by a van which failed to stop on the outskirts of Lifford in Co Donegal on 11 July 2021.

The driver of the van, Sean Connaughton, failed to stop at the scene.

The former firefighter, now aged 55, presented himself at Letterkenny Garda Station the next day after hearing a woman had been killed.

He was already disqualified from driving for four years from 10 April 2020, for not having insurance on a previous occasion.

Connaughton, with an address at Doolargy Avenue, Dundalk, Co Louth, appeared in Letterkenny Circuit Court, where he had already pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death.

He was arraigned on three further charges of failing to keep a vehicle at the scene of an accident, driving without insurance and driving without a valid driving licence.

The court heard how Ms Connolly, 34, had been out socialising with friends when she was struck by the van.

Sergeant Eamon Roarty, of Milford Garda Station, outlined details of the incident to State Prosecutor Fiona Crawford, BL.

Ms Crawford read from a number of witness statements given to gardaí as part of their investigation into the incident.

The court heard that Ms Connolly was among five women who were walking along a footpath at Townspark, Lifford, when the incident occurred approximately 200 metres from the 'Three Coins' roundabout.

One of her friends, Demi Carlin, said Ms Connolly had been in great spirits and had been laughing, dancing and singing and then lay on her back in the middle of the road with her head resting on the centre white line.

Ms Carlin said the other women in the group had walked on and did not realise that Ms Connolly was lying on the road.

She said she heard a vehicle coming and shouted at Ms Connolly to get back on the footpath.

Ms Carlin said she noticed the van, coming from the direction of Castlefin, was going really fast and she had thought the driver had tried to swerve to avoid Ms Connolly on the road.

The van drove over Ms Connolly, failed to slow down and was driven off without stopping.

A statement from another witness, Rory Gallagher, was also read to the court.

Mr Gallagher said he heard laughing outside and got up for a smoke and a "nosey".

He heard a bang and thought someone had kicked a car, but when he realised what had happened he called 999 at 2.38am.

He said he and his father Martin, who had emergency services training, both tried to perform CPR on Ms Connolly but could not find a pulse.

Ms Connolly was taken by ambulance to Letterkenny University Hospital but she was pronounced dead at 4am.

A report from State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers said the cause of Ms Connolly's death was as a result of blunt force traumatic injuries.

Ms Crawford told the court that Connaughton presented himself at Letterkenny Garda Station on 12 July after hearing of the incident.

He denied being involved in any accident and told gardaí that he was a trained paramedic and that if he hit something he would have stopped.

Evidence was also given from Connaughton's personal iPhone of calls and texts being made before and after the time of the collision and that there was no reference to any incident.

There was also no attempt made to wash or clean Connaughton's Citroen Berlingo van before it was driven to the garda station.

A subsequent forensic examination of the van found DNA which was a match to Ms Connolly.

The court also heard from victim impact statements from Ms Connolly's family.

Her mother Rosemary told the court that she had not only lost her only daughter but also her best friend.

She said her daughter lived just six doors from her and that they had spent so much time in the previous months planning her wedding.

Victim impact statements were also read out on behalf of Ms Connolly's father Jimmy, brother James, son Jamie and partner Joseph McCullagh.

The court was told that Connaughton has 16 previous convictions, including five under the Road Traffic Act, two under the Larceny Act and others connected to Covid regulations while operating a licensed premises.

Connaughton told the court that whatever he had to say to the Connolly family would be of no comfort to them.

He added that he can never imagine what they have suffered but said he was sorry from the bottom of his heart.

He said he accepts he has to live with what he did every day, adding that if he had obeyed his driving ban "Laura would have been alive".

A reference from the Donegal Fire Service was handed into court which said Connaughton provided training and education to other firefighters in various skills and abilities while stationed in Glenties.

Connaughton's barrister Mr Colm Smyth, SC, with Peter Nolan BL and instructed by solicitor Frank Dorrian, said his client had been placed at a moderate risk of reoffending by the Probation Services given his previous convictions and non-compliance.

He said Connaughton was experiencing symptoms of prolonged psychological reaction and is receiving medication for anxiety and high blood pressure.

He added that Connaughton has to live with what he did every day and that it will stay with him forever "while he is in this world" and "long after the sentence that will be imposed".

Judge John Aylmer said it will take time to consider all matters and adjourned final sentencing until next week.

Connaughton was released on continuing bail.