Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 10027Dangerous driving causing serious injury · Co. Westmeath · 23 Mar 2025

Man pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury in Rathowen crash

In the early hours of 23 March 2025, an Audi crashed in Rathowen village, Co Westmeath. The driver, Gerard Duffy McAndrew, 23, and his passenger and brother, Stephen Murphy, 29, were in the car, and Murphy was thrown from it and lost a leg above the knee. McAndrew pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Court to dangerous driving causing serious injury, as reported in April 2026. The judge sought a probation report and adjourned sentencing until 20 May.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted17 Apr
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gerard Duffy McAndrew, 23, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury to his brother, Stephen Murphy.
Where
The Audi crashed in Rathowen village, Co Westmeath.
When
The crash happened in the early hours of 23 March 2025.
Cause
  • The car was travelling at least three times the speed limit.
  • CCTV calculated the car's speed at between 150km/h and 160km/h.
  • The driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
  • Toxicology reports showed the driver had cannabis and alcohol in his system.
Investigation
  • Phone video recorded at 1.41am shows the driver holding and drinking from a bottle of wine while driving.
  • The speedometer was frozen at 195km/h when the car came to a stop 135m from the collision.
Other details
  • Stephen Murphy, 29, the passenger, was thrown from the car and lost a leg from above the knee.
  • The car had no NCT, no motor tax and no insurance.
In court
At Mullingar Circuit Court, Judge Keenan Johnson sought a probation report.
Sentence
Sentencing was adjourned until 20 May.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGerard Duffy McAndrew pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury to his brother. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe Audi crashed in Rathowen village, Co Westmeath. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe crash happened in the early hours of 23 March 2025. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe car was travelling at least three times the speed limit. (rte.ie)
  • causeCCTV calculated the car's speed at between 150km/h and 160km/h. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe driver was not wearing a seatbelt. (rte.ie)
  • causeToxicology reports showed the driver had cannabis and alcohol in his system. (rte.ie)
  • investigationPhone video recorded at 1.41am shows the driver holding and drinking from a bottle of wine while driving. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge requested a probation report and adjourned sentencing until 20 May. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe car's speedometer was frozen at 195km/h when the car came to a stop 135m from the collision. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe passenger, Stephen Murphy, lost a leg from above the knee in the collision. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe driver had no NCT, no motor tax and no insurance on the car. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Apr2026
    Convictedrte.ie, first report
    Man guilty of dangerous driving 'living through hell'

    Court report: Gerard Duffy McAndrew pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Court; the judge sought a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 20 May.

    convicted, Gerard Duffy McAndrew, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard Duffy McAndrewvictim, Stephen Murphy, 29, male, irish (judged from name)Stephen Murphy