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Eight years for drink driver who killed two French women

An inebriated motorist who killed two French tourists when he crashed into them was jailed yesterday for eight years. By Shellley Marsden - 06/11/08

The two women, who were both killed instantly, had only arrived in the country hours before the horrific accident.

John Cash, 27, a father of three who had previous convictions for dangerous driving and had been banned from driving in 2007 for 20 years, told the court: "I am truly sorry, I will never drive again."

Cash, of Tallaght pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the deaths of Martine Talon, 54 and Martine Liotard, 53, at Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot on May 16, 2007. He pleaded guilty also to having no insurance on that same date.

The man, who had drunk 14 cans of cider and a bottle of whiskey before getting into the car, said he prayed for the families of the victims every night and would do so for the rest of his days.

He apologized for the "hardship and heartache" he had caused and said he was getting help in prison for his substance abuse problems.

Judge Katherine Delahunt expressed her condolences to the French women’s families and said she hoped the sentence would bring some kind of closure for them.

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An eight year sentence on the two counts of dangerous driving causing death were imposed, as well as a concurrent six month term for driving without insurance. Cash was banned from driving for 15 years.

The court was told by garda Feidhlim McKenna that the two women had arrived in Ireland earlier that day on a holiday with over 50 co-workers from south-east France. They walked out of their hotel in Bluebell with a friend just before 11pm for an after stroll along the Kylemore Road.

The friend of the two women saw a silver Lexus driving fast in their direction. It hit a wall, flew across the road towards them and smashed into her friends.

Gda McKenna said analysis of the scene showed the driver had been traveling at between 66.5 and 87kmh in a 50kmh zone in favourable driving conditions.

Garda Owen O'Rourke arrived soon after at the scene, as he had been following the Lexus which he had seen speeding. He saw one body in front of the car and Cash in the back seat of the car. Cash smelled of alcohol and when asked gave him a false name.

The driver was arrested and told gardai he had been in the back seat of the car and given another man’s name as the driver. He would not give urine and blood samples within the legal limit of three hours.

Cash later told the truth that he had been driving, and told gardai he had bought the Lexus at about 8pm that evening for €2,000. He said he had been drinking "a lot" that day and expressed his sorrow for the families.

Pictured: Martine Talon, one of the victims.