THE court heard from a number of witnesses who were in Sheelan's house, which is close to where the accident occurred.

Dean McCluskey was driving a car which turned into his friend Patrick Sheelan's house moments before the accident. He recalled hearing a 'massive bang'. He saw two cars 'absolutely wrecked'.

Another friend of the Sheelans, Philip Carroll, said he saw a man slumped over the steering wheel in the Audi. He and a group of friends were standing around. He saw the driver get out of the car and walk towards him. He was wearing Nike runners, black track suit bottoms and a top with a stripe on it.

He asked him had he credit on his phone, he said he didn't. He felt the person was 5'8 or 5'9. He looked dopey and sleepy. He then walked past him and went in the direction of Dundalk. He left the scene completely. The court heard that a number of people began a search for the driver of the vehicle, as it was feared he might have wandered off injured and was in a nearby field.

A member of Dundalk Fire Service told of using thermal imaging cameras in the area after the accident, but they could not find the driver.