Speeding driver sentenced for killing cousin

Nathan Hennessey, 19, was recklessly “leapfrogging” traffic and “floored the accelerator” before his car slammed into Megan Hennessey and her sister Sophie, 16, as they crossed a road while walking home from school.

Megan died at the scene and Sophie, who was just about to take her GCSEs, was left with a life-threatening brain injury and spent six weeks recovering in hospital.

After Hennessey was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court, Megan’s parents Andrew and Amanda Hennessey said they welcomed the sentence and were glad the girls’ cousin had been brought to task for his “callous disregard of human life and the devastation he has wreaked upon us”.

They said the tragedy was heightened by him not having declared any remorse. The family had been “ripped apart”.

Andrew Hennessey, from Owston Ferry, near Doncaster said: “Our two precious girls were the heart and soul of our family. It was important to ensure that justice was done on their behalves. Nothing can ever replace Megan but perhaps now we are finally free to try and rebuild our lives.

“We owe that not just to Megan but also Sophie who has been so courageous throughout all of this and continues to struggle with the physical and mental effects of what happened on that dreadful day.”

Hennessey, of Moorends, near Doncaster, was due to stand trial but changed his plea last month and admitted causing Megan’s death by dangerous driving when he was 18.

Prosecutor Tina Dempster said Hennessey was “leapfrogging” around stationary or slow-moving vehicles on King Edward Road in Thorne, near Doncaster at 4pm on November 27, 2008.

Schoolfriend Chloe Butler was going home from the Trinity Academy with the sisters who were heading for their grandmother’s nearby when the accident happened in near darkness.

Miss Dempster said Sophie could not remember anything about the incident but Chloe said she saw the girls begin to cross the road and there was ample time to get over safely before approaching cars arrived.

The girls checked the road both ways and had reached the white line when Hennessey’s car hit them.

Miss Dempster said: “It seemed to Chloe that he had just come out of nowhere.”

Hennessey had apparently swerved around a car waiting to turn which had blocked both the girl’s view and that of Hennessey himself.

He swerved into the opposite carriageway and as he came back onto the right side of the road collided with the sisters who were sent flying into the air for some distance.

Miss Dempster said: “By chance these two girls were the cousins of this defendant and they were the daughters of the defendant’s father’s brother.”

She added that the cousins were not particularly close. She said of the accident: “It was pure coincidence. There was no intention.”

Later tests showed Hennessey had been driving at about 39 mph in a 30 mph residential zone.

Megan died instantly from massive internal injuries. Sophie, who had a fractured skull and multiple brain injuries was not expected to survive but pulled through and is now back at school.

After the collision Hennessey lost control, did a 180-degree turn and hit a lamp-post.

He waited at the scene for police to arrive but denied all responsibility for the accident in police interviews.

Guy Wyatt, for Hennessey, said his behaviour “though reprehensible was brief”.

His impatient driving had only lasted a few seconds and he was not far above the speed limit.

“He is extremely apologetic and very sorry to all concerned,” said the barrister.

Hennessey hung his head in shame and wept as he was given four years detention and banned from driving for 10 years.

Judge Peter Jones said there was no sentence the court could impose which would restore Megan to her family or compensate them for the “devastating” loss they had suffered.

Megan’s parents are suing Nathan Hennessey’s insurers in the civil courts over the tragedy.