The father of the 16-year-old driver of a stolen sports car, involved in the collision with a Garda patrol car two weeks ago which resulted in the deaths of two gardaí, has said his son was "very upset" when he heard of the deaths. "Paul", speaking on RTÉ's Liveline yesterday, said his son "got very upset and he started crying".
The youth remains in St James's Hospital, Dublin, nine days after the collision on the Stillorgan dual carriageway in Dublin in which Garda Anthony Tighe and Garda Michael Padden were killed.
A second youth, aged 15, who was in the stolen car, was last week charged with burglary and allowing himself to be a passenger in a stolen car. It is thought the 16-year-old may be charged with manslaughter.
"Paul" did not think his son realised the severity of the situation he was in. "I don't think he realises at the moment because he's taking so many tablets for the pain and sleepers and that. His hip is smashed; he has a bolt going through it and he's in a lot of pain."
Having extended his sympathies to the Tighe and Padden families, "Paul" said his wife had tried to take her life after the collision. "She tried to put a blade through her heart, through her chest, only her sister got a hold of her."
He questioned why people would blame him and his wife for his son's actions. "I done my best for my son. I've four other kids as well. I don't know why they're blaming me and my wife for what he's been doing. I done everything for him."
He was shocked when he saw a photograph of his son in his hospital bed on the front of a Sunday paper, adding that he had not helped the photographer to get into the ward. "The first thing I knew was when I picked up the paper at 8.30 on Sunday morning and I seen the photograph. I just couldn't believe it."
His son was under guard in the hospital. He did not know when he might be brought before the courts.
