Crash victim's daughter says Cork woman facing dangerous driving ...

23-year-old Lilly Dunne, daughter of the late Sheila Dunne said on Tuesday: “Jennifer’s malicious lies trickled out to media vultures, compounding our grief. Newspapers and social media outlets covered the story and reported that my Mom was the driver of the car. 

"Jennifer’s complete fabrication painted a picture of my Mom, Sheila, that was far from the truth, sensationalising the tragedy and stripping away her dignity and worsening our family suffering.

“It’s heartbreaking to see how easily someone’s untruthful words can overshadow all the goodness and integrity my Mom embodied.” 

Evidence

Judge Helen Boyle heard the evidence throughout Tuesday afternoon and said there was a lot to consider so she said she would impose sentence on Thursday. For the avoidance of doubt she said it would be a custodial sentence. Ms Thomas was then remanded in custody at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda Mark Durcan testified that on Sunday, February 11, this year at around 7.30pm the jeep driven by Jennifer Thomas, after drinking 12 alcoholic beverages in the course of the day, crashed and turned over causing injuries to her friend and front-seat passenger, Sheila Dunne, as a result of which she died.

The two women had been friends for up to 20 years and on that day went to the 12 Tables restaurant in Douglas for lunch, followed by the Pier Head in Blackrock and The Castle Bar in Glanmire.

Ms Thomas drove a number of times during that day until she drove after 7pm that evening with Ms Dunne as her front-seat passenger. On the journey home after being stopped in traffic she failed to drive off for over eight minutes, causing traffic from behind to beep and pass her. 

One motorist looked into the vehicle and said Jennifer Thomas was asleep at the wheel and it was clear that both driver and passenger were intoxicated, Det. Garda Durcan said.

Jennifer Thomas was admitted to hospital on October 24 after making an attempt on her own life. Picture: Dan Linehan

At a later point in the journey the vehicle was seen going on to the incorrect side of the road and later stopping for five minutes. The jeep then hit a number of traffic cones, knocking them over. One citizen was so concerned they drove after the car.

The detective said Ms Thomas narrowly missed two pedestrians correcting the vehicle at the last moment.

“Jennifer Thomas then drove around a left bend, failed to straighten the vehicle, (went on to a grass verge, mounted a walled kerb) and overturned on to the driver’s side at 7.31pm. Her phone was on Bluetooth and auto-contacted emergency services by 999,” he said. 

The detective said that Ms Dunne fell down on top of Ms Thomas in the driver’s seat when the jeep-type vehicle landed on the driver’s side. He said Ms Thomas was agitated and upset, repeatedly asking how Ms Dunne was.

Denial of driving

When fire officers at the scene asked who was driving Ms Thomas told them she was driving. A short time later she told Garda Eric Stafford in response to the same question, that Sheila Dunne was driving because she had more control.

The detective said that Jennifer Thomas was wearing a seatbelt at the time and the late Ms Dunne was not, putting her 600% more at risk of serious injury, Det. Garda Durcan said.

Later again Ms Thomas said she could not remember who was driving. When questioned afterwards she accepted she was the driver at all times. Her senior counsel Tom Creed said she admitted she was driving and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He said she also apologised to the family of the late Sheila Dunne and hoped they would find the space to heal. “I am totally sorry in more ways than I can express."

Mr Creed said defence solicitor Eddie Burke had to write to media organisations as a result of reporting rumours from social media in this case, where a false allegation was made that a call was made to someone about moving a body — an allegation which he described as completely malicious. 

Mr Creed said that she was not the one who spread these rumours and in fact tried to stop them spreading.

Victim impact statements

The deceased woman’s mother, Esther O’Brien, 74, said in her victim impact statement: “I stand before you as a heartbroken mother who has lost her daughter, Sheila, to a drunk driver on February 13, 2024. This loss has not only shattered my life but has also left two precious grandchildren without their mother.

“My daughter was my biggest support. We shared a deep bond, she was my confidante, my source of strength.

“The tragedy extends far beyond our little family. My daughter’s absence has left a profound emotional scar on all of us. I find myself constantly worrying about my grandchildren’s wellbeing and their future.

“This is something no mother could anticipate. I grapple with anger and sadness, not just for my daughter but also for the reckless choice that led to this loss. It’s hard to trust and feel safe in the world when someone’s selfish decision has had such devastating consequences… 

Only for (grandchildren), life is not worth living. I will carry this pain with me for the rest of my life.

Lilly Dunne spoke on behalf of herself and her younger brother TJ about the impact that losing their mother in this way has had on them.

“As a 23-year-old girl, I have already faced the unbearable loss of my Dad and now to experience the agonising loss of my Mom feels like a cruel twist of fate that I cannot comprehend.

“The month of February is traditionally known as the month of love. But February for me now only represents tragedy and death. On February 9, 2021, my dad died unexpectedly from covid. We had to watch him take his last few breaths after they removed his ventilator, and then on February 13, 2024, I had to watch this all over again — watch my Mom’s heartbeat slow to a halt after they removed her ventilator.

Sheila Dunne. Her daughter Lilly told the court: 'My Mom Sheila Dunne embodied love, care and kindness in every aspect of her life.'

“This experience is what I can only describe as hell on earth and something that I wish no one would ever have to go through.

“My beautiful Mom was taken from us far too soon at the young age of 50. In a car crash caused by a reckless decision made by a selfish individual. This choice has altered our lives forever.

“I have known Jennifer for many years. It haunts me that on the day of the crash I repeatedly tried to contact Jennifer as I couldn’t get through to my Mom as her phone was flat. I felt a huge worry as it was totally out of character for my Mom.

“It was later verified to me that Jennifer’s phone was not flat and so I could only feel as though I was being ignored. The betrayal I feel is indescribable and it has broken my sense of safety and trust in everyone.

Jennifer’s partner and daughter told me my Mom was the one driving the car. I never believed this and this made an unimaginable tragedy even more painful for me and my family.

“We spent two days at my Mom’s bedside hoping for a miracle. Out of respect, I made the decision to allow Jennifer to come in to say goodbye to my Mom. Knowing what I know now my decision would have been different.

“Jennifer’s malicious lies trickled out to media vultures, compounding our grief. Newspapers and social media outlets covered the story and reported that my Mom was the driver of the car. 

Jennifer’s complete fabrication painted a picture of my Mom, Sheila, that was far from the truth, sensationalising the tragedy and stripping away her dignity and worsening our family suffering.

“It’s heartbreaking to see how easily someone’s untruthful words can overshadow all the goodness and integrity my Mom embodied.

“Instead of honouring our Mom’s memory, Jennifer’s narrative aided the press in turning her death into a spectacle, further deepening our wounds and robbing us of the peace we desperately sought and still seek to this day.

“Jennifer initiated contact with me during the most painful time of my existence. She asked for forgiveness but never took responsibility for her careless actions. She never said sorry.

“Jennifer’s absence of remorse has made this grieving process so much more challenging. It is incredibly painful to know that someone, who I thought I knew, would withhold the truth in such a devastating way and it makes it harder to heal from this loss.

“My mother was the heart and soul of our family, the core of our existence. She was my rock, my best friend, the one that stood by me through everything and losing her so soon and so tragically is so unfair.

“This accident happened 1.2 km from our home on a road we would have used every day. I cannot bring myself to drive this road anymore.

My Mom Sheila Dunne embodied love, care and kindness in every aspect of her life. 

"As a wife, a Mom, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, an SNA and a pillar in the community, how does one possibly fill these shoes? I wish we could just have our Mom back. Our Mom’s death is a hole that no amount of time or apology can ever fill and no justice will bring her back.”

Jennifer Thomas of 10 Oakfield View, Glanmire, Cork, pleaded guilty previously to the charge that on February 11 at L2973, Sarsfield Court, Glanmire, she drove in a manner that was dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Sheila Dunne.

She will be sentenced on Thursday.