'As a family we are totally heartbroken': Man sentenced for dangerous driving causing death of Cork woman

One of the most tragic episodes ever experienced in Ballingeary ended with the jailing of a local man for 18 months today but memories prevail of a beloved daughter of the Gaeltacht.

42-year-old Michael Lucey of Derryvaleen, Ballingeary, County Cork, was sentenced to a total of three years with half of this suspended for dangerous driving causing the death of 51-year-old Gobnait Twomey, drink driving and a separate charge of dangerous driving. He was disqualified from driving for five years.

Judge Colin Daly said the harm in the present case was the ultimate in that Ms Twomey had lost her life.

The judge believed that the remorse expressed by Mr Lucey was genuine and heartfelt, but added: 

“His culpability is very significant. He made a conscious decision to drive when he couldn’t have failed to realise that his ability to drive was significantly impaired… He was three times over the limit (for alcohol).” 

Garda Deirdre O’Mahony said the fatal incident occurred on Tuesday December 13 2022 at 1.10am following two local funerals in the village. Mr Lucey had buried his father. The late Ms Twomey had buried her uncle.

Parties from both families returned to Ballingeary that night.

“Michael Lucey drove his brother’s Hyundai car on Main Street, Ballingeary. He came upon and struck the group of pedestrians at the narrow turn outside the Old Forge Bar where there was poor quality lighting. Gobnait Twomey was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Twomey was saying repeatedly, ‘God help me, God forgive me’,” Garda O’Mahony said.

Family statement

Sean Twomey, brother of the deceased, said on behalf of the family: “She had a special relationship with every one of us and was the glue that kept pulling us together. Wherever Gob was there was bound to be good craic, joking and lots of laughter. She loved to laugh and we couldn't help but join in with her loud contagious laugh. She was generous to a fault with her time, attention and especially her love.

“All she ever wanted to do was physiotherapy. She returned to University at 47 and earned her degree just months before she was killed. She was so excited to finally realise her dream and she couldn't wait to dive into the new future she had worked so hard for. As a family we are totally heartbroken.

“Nothing could have prepared me for the carnage I witnessed on the road that night. The scene was total chaos. I knew instantly that Gob was dead. She was lying on the road completely broken. My other sister was being attended to by paramedics who happened to be in the village when the fatality happened. My mam was hysterical having seen her daughter being rolled over, and there were two others also lying on the road.

“The impact of that night hasn't just affected us, but the whole village. Her dreams, hard work and future were ripped away from her in that instant and she was ripped away from us. Her life was cut short and her potential snuffed out. There are no words to explain the devastation it has caused to our family. We are not looking for our pound of flesh here today but stating as best we can, the impact that night has left on us.

“We had to tell dad the following morning that his daughter had been killed the same day that he buried his brother. He had fought like a warrior for two years to beat his cancer, but his will to live died that day. He died broken hearted a few months later.

“We think about Gob and miss her every minute of every day. All we have left now are the wonderful memories she left us with, which are unfortunately still tangled up in the awfulness of that night.” 

'The worst day of my life'

Jay Ammari, Gobnait's partner, said: “The 13th of December 2022 was the worst day of my life. It was shocking for me as I always thought that Ballingeary was the safest place in the world for her. It was her village and she was with her family.

“She used to massage friends and family when they had injuries. That's why she became a physiotherapist. I could see how proud she was when she received her degree from UCO. I took the picture of her that was published in the newspapers. It was the 9th of September 2022. The day after she died she received an email from a recruiter. 2023 promised to be a great year… nothing could stop her.

“With Gabby gone I lost my best friend. We had been together for 11 years. They were happy years. We were a team and we would do everything together. We had our own jokes our own favourite places but now I am alone. 

"I realise that when people ask me if I am going home for Christmas. I have no home. I have just somewhere I live or stay. Home was where she was. 

"Ireland became home thanks to Gobnait. Every person she met in France misses her. Gobnait had friends all over the world. I miss Gobnait every day.” 

Injured party

Injured party that night, Padraig Horgan, said, “This was a harrowing experience, and it has haunted me every day since. In my mind I have often relived the accident and I wish I could have done something to change the outcome but there wasn't enough time to change anything. I watched on that night as Eibhlis Twomey knelt by her daughter's side and watched her slip away. It is an image I can never forget; it will be with me forever.”