A man has been jailed for two years over a high-speed crash in Rathowen, Co Westmeath, that left his brother with 'catastrophic' injuries in March 2025, including losing a leg.
At Mullingar Circuit Court today, Gerard Duffy McAndrew, aged 23, of Ben View, Rathcorbally, Monilea, Co Westmeath, was given a five-year prison sentence, with the final three years suspended, for dangerous-driving causing serious bodily harm.
He has also been disqualified from driving for four years.
Judge Keenan Johnson noted how Duffy McAndrew was four times over the drink-driving limit, had cannabis in his system, and was driving at around three times the speed limit on the night in question.
The accused had recently connected with his biological brother, 29-year-old Stephen Murphy, who was adopted at a young age, when he caused him to lose a leg after this high-speed collision at around 2.30am on March 23, 2025.
Duffy McAndrew was the driver of the Audi car and his brother was a front-seat passenger.
Duffy McAndrew pleaded guilty to dangerous-driving causing serious bodily harm and driving without insurance.
In giving his verdict today, Judge Johnson said the accused drove dangerously, hitting two trees in the village of Rathowen before the car crashed.
He said the victim was thrown out of the vehicle, even though he was wearing a seat belt.
The car, which had no tax, insurance or NCT, disintegrated on impact.
The judge said it was an absolute miracle both brothers survived.
The judge said, on the evening before the accident, the victim broke up with his girlfriend.
Duffy McAndrew had gone to see his brother and the pair went to Portunny in Co Roscommon and then drove towards Rathowen, with the car clocking speeds of up to 163km an hour - sometimes in 50km-per-hour zones.
The court previously heard gardaí carrying out an analysis of Mr Duffy McAndrew’s phone extracted a number of videos that were taken by him on the night of the collision.
One such video, taken approximately 50 minutes before the collision, showed a bottle of wine in the accused man’s hand while he drove on a narrow road, using his other hand to record the video on his phone.
A caption on the video read “Roscommons a bad influence. Beer steer ago”.
The camera pans over to the passenger seat, where Mr Murphy can be seen, sleeping on his side, facing away from the camera with a seatbelt on and his seat fully reclined.
Mr Duffy McAndrew then turns the phone on himself to show him drinking from the bottle of wine.
Judge Johnson said this video was a significant aggravating factor when determining Duffy McAndrew's sentence.
Both Murphy and Duffy McAndrew were taken to Mullingar Hospital after the crash, with Murphy being transferred to the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
He had his left leg amputated - he now has a prosthetic limb - and sustained other significant injuries, such as broken ribs and damage to his right leg. He spent four and a half months in hospital, the judge noted.
The judge, who said his injuries were 'catastrophic', described him as a man of remarkable resilience.
He said Duffy McAndrew also sustained significant injuries, including to his head. He was placed on ventilation, and had arm fractures.
The judge said it was an extremely serious case of dangerous driving.
He noted the accused's car was written off, as was a parked car and another parked vehicle was badly damaged. Roofs of two houses nearby were also damaged.
In mitigation, the judge noted an early plea of guilt from Duffy McAndrew, who has no previous convictions.
He said it was clear the accused was full of guilt about the 'life-changing' injuries to his brother.
He said there had been a significant cooling in their relationship.
Judge Johnson said it was clear Duffy McAndrew's behaviour was out of character and he made an extremely bad decision by driving with alcohol and drugs in his system and at significant speed.
He said the accused has shown remorse and had a previously unblemished character.
He said he's working as an apprentice stonemason and is off drink and drugs.
He said Duffy McAndrew has been traumatised by the incident.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Johnson said he's very sorry to impose a custodial sentence because Duffy McAndrew is an inherently decent person.
But he said punishment is required to mark the significance of the offending.
