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Irish Examiner Monday, April 03, 2006
‘I held Kevin’s hand and I knew straight away he was dead’
By Noel Baker and Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent
THE death toll on Irish roads climbed to 98 yesterday after a two-car accident left a woman dead and two people in hospital.The head-on collision took place on the N8 just a mile and a half south of Urlingford at around 2.20pm yesterday.
It was the second road fatality in Co Tipperary over the weekend and the ninth in the county so far this year.
Former Irish international rugby player Eddie Halvey is facing drink driving charges following the death of a 16-year-old Co Limerick boy on the N7 at Coole, Toomevara, Nenagh, shortly after 5am on Saturday.
The dead boy, Kevin Walsh from Sycamore Drive, Bruff, was the only son of Kate and Jim Walsh, who have an older daughter, Mandy, 20.
An Opel Frontera 4x4 driven by Mr Halvey, 35, struck a car in which Kevin Walsh was a back seat passenger near Toomevara, Co Tipperary.
Moments before the crash, Kevin Walsh told his uncle, Declan Tierney, how he was so excited about his first trip to watch his beloved Liverpool at Anfield in a few weeks’ time.
Mr Tierney, who was injured in the crash, said: “Tragically Kevin will never get to Anfield for what was going to be the trip of his young life.”
The car was being driven by the boy’s other uncle, Vincent Tierney, and Declan Tierney was in the front passenger seat.
Declan Tierney said yesterday: “After the impact I held Kevin’s hand and I knew straight away he was dead. I was pinned into the front. I could hold his hand, but he was dead.”
Mr Halvey is believed to have been travelling to Dublin to attend the European Cup quarter-final. He was not injured. Gardaí arrested him at the scene on suspicion of drink driving.
Gardaí have confirmed that a file is being prepared for the DPP on the circumstances which claimed the life of Kevin Walsh.
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Independent.ie Wednesday May 13 2009
By Barry Duggan
THE mother of a teenager killed in a car crash involving former rugby star Eddie Halvey has hit out at the judicial system for not jailing the drunken sportsman.
Retired player Halvey (38) escaped a prison sentence yesterday when he was convicted for drink-driving and careless driving.
Halvey's vehicle struck the BMW carrying Kevin Walsh from behind on April 1, 2006, at Coole, Toomevara, Co Tipperary. The 16-year-old sports enthusiast died at the scene.
Speaking outside Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court, the dead boy's mother, Kate Walsh, from Sycamore Drive, Bruff, Co Limerick, said the wrong message had been sent out to the rest of the country.
"At this time I am very bitter with the justice system in this country," she said. "I feel very bitter towards Eddie Halvey. He is a sportsman who played for Ireland and got a slap on the wrists in court today."
"It sent out the wrong message to everyone in Ireland today. Go out, play sports for Ireland, drink drive, you can kill someone and you won't get punished in court for it, that is the reality," Mrs Walsh said.
"We are disappointed. He got a slap on the wrists for drink-driving and killing my child."
Dangerous
Before Judge Tom Teehan, Halvey, of Allendale Hall, South Circular Road, Limerick, who was previously charged with dangerous driving causing death, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving.
The former Munster and Ireland rugby player also pleaded guilty to drink driving. The court heard his alcohol level was over twice the legal limit for driving.
Following an emotional case, Judge Teehan gave the guilty man a seven-month suspended prison sentence and banned him from driving for seven years. He also ordered the Limerick man to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years.
Det Declan O'Carroll gave evidence that Kevin Walsh was a passenger with his uncles, Vincent and Declan Tierney, travelling to Newry in a 1999 registered BMW when they came across cattle on the N7 route between Toomevara and Moneygall. Vincent rang the gardai to inform them of the cattle and of their dangers to other motorist.
At 5.10am, gardai came across the two-vehicle collision. Mr Halvey's 2005 registered Toyota Landcruiser had struck the rear of the BMW.
Det O'Carroll tried to revive Kevin Walsh but was unable to do so. Mr Halvey was on the side of the road and was "unsteady on his feet and appeared to be drunk".
A subsequent investigation established that the BMW was stopped on the Dublin-bound carriageway.
The judge was provided with reports from defence barrister Patrick Gageby which showed that the defendant had become introverted and was prescribed anti-depressant medication following the incident. He also received counselling.
The court also heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions had at one stage considered dropping the matter entirely.
Kate Walsh told the court that Eddie Halvey robbed her of a lifetime with Kevin. She said she still buys her son the latest Liverpool jersey when it comes out and puts it on his grave.
"I couldn't believe that it was someone else's stupidity that had killed Kevin, someone who had chosen to drive after having drink taken. He didn't have to die, he was only a child sitting in the back of a parked car.''
"Eddie Halvey has handed us a life sentence of emptiness and pain," she said. "Kevin had always said that he would be a star and thanks to Eddie Halvey he is, but for all the wrong reasons."
Facing the defendant, Mrs Walsh said she will never forgive or forget him for his "ignorance and selfishness and for killing my small man, Kevin".
Kate Walsh remembered her youngest child whom she referred to as her small man, her son and baby. She said he loved his sister, Mandy, and "as he was getting older, he was keeping a watchful eye on her".
Mrs Walsh said Eddie Halvey's apology yesterday in court came three years too late. "He could have done it the week after and it wouldn't have been half as hard on me today, but what can I do?"
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