Train drove over two drunken men

Two men, who had a miraculous escape when a train drove over them while they were lying drunk and asleep on railway tracks, were warned yesterday that they were within a hair's breadth of going to jail for their outrageous behaviour.

James Broderick (54), Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick and Thomas Franklin (29), Smith O'Brien Avenue, Kileely, Limerick, both pleaded guilty at Limerick District Court yesterday to charges of being drunk and disorderly and a danger to themselves on June 1st last.

Both men also admitted trespassing on Iarnród Éireann property on the same day. The court heard that the offences related to a "shocking" incident last summer when train driver Harry Beegan was driving the 6pm train from Colbert Station in Limerick to Ennis. As he approached Shannonbridge he saw two bodies on the tracks and despite pressing on the brakes and sounding the emergency siren neither body moved.

The train passed over both men and when the driver stopped he saw two heads underneath the train, the court heard. Miraculously, neither of the defendants was injured and one of the men managed to get out from under the train himself while the other man was pulled out.

Judge Tom O'Donnell described the defendants' behaviour as "outrageous" and said the incident could have had catastrophic consequence. "I can only imagine the pandemonium the train driver must have suffered in those few seconds seeing those people lying on the tacks not knowing what condition they were in," said Judge O'Donnell.

Defence solicitor Ted McCarthy said both of his clients were intoxicated to such an extent that they were a danger to themselves. Both accepted that they were trespassing and were happy to give an undertaking to stay away from railway tracks in the future. Broderick the court heard had 33 previous convictions while Franklin had 63 previous convictions.

Judge O'Donnell sentenced each of the accused to six months in jail but agreed to suspend the sentences provided they each be of good behaviour for two years. He also fined them €300 each.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times