Ireland Man pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury to brother in Westmeath crash
In the early hours of 23 March 2025, Gerard Duffy McAndrew, a 23-year-old man, crashed at high speed into two trees in Rathowen, Westmeath, and lost control of his car, seriously injuring his brother Stephen Murphy, a 29-year-old man and passenger who was thrown through the windscreen and lost his left leg. Gardaí estimated McAndrew was reaching 163 km/h minutes earlier in Ballinalack, where the limit is 50 km/h, and he was over the legal drink-drive limit. McAndrew pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing serious injury and to having no insurance for the car, and reports of the plea were dated 1 April 2026. Sentencing was then adjourned to allow a probation report to be prepared, with sentencing due in May.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted1 Apr
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gerard Duffy McAndrew, a 23-year-old man, crashed the car he was driving, injuring his brother Stephen Murphy, a 29-year-old man.
- Where
- The collision took place in Rathowen, Westmeath.
- When
- The crash happened in the early hours of 23 March 2025.
- Cause
- The accused had been using cannabis and filming himself drinking wine while driving that night.
- The accused crashed at high speed into two trees in the village and lost control of his car.
- Gardaí estimated, based on video evidence, that the accused was reaching 163 km/h minutes before the crash in nearby Ballinalack, where the limit is 50 km/h.
- The accused was over the legal drink-drive limit.
- Weapon
- No weapon was involved; the car was the means of the injury.
- Other details
- The victim, who was a passenger, was thrown through the windscreen and lost his left leg.
- The accused was not insured for the car, and the car had no NCT.
- Charges
- The accused pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury and to having no insurance for the car he was using.
- In court
- The case was heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court; reports of the guilty plea are dated 1 April 2026.
- Sentence
- Sentencing was adjourned to allow a probation report to be prepared, with sentencing due in May.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe collision took place in Rathowen, Westmeath. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe crash happened in the early hours of 23 March 2025. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe accused had been using cannabis and filming himself drinking wine while driving that night. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe accused crashed at high speed into two trees in the village and lost control of his car. (thejournal.ie)
- causeGardaí estimated the accused was reaching 163 km/h minutes before the crash in nearby Ballinalack, where the limit is 50 km/h. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe accused was over the legal drink-drive limit. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe accused pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury and having no insurance for the car he was using. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSentencing was adjourned to allow a probation report to be prepared, with sentencing due in May. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused was not insured for the car and the car had no NCT. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe victim, who was a passenger, was thrown through the windscreen and lost his left leg. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Apr2026Young man maimed his brother in horrific crash after speeding 'like a missile', court hears
Reports the guilty plea at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, the crash details, the victim's injuries, the court's comments, and that sentencing was adjourned to 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