Court hears details of Louth GAA star killed in shocking hit-and-run

RIP.

The court heard and watched footage of how Ball was travelling between 86kmh and 109kmh in a 50 kmh zone when he struck the 45-year-old Mac Eneaney, before leaving the scene without providing assistance.

Mac Eneaney had been socialising with friends from St Fechin's GAA club and was two minutes from his house when he was hit at the pedestrian crossing and flung 34m on Rathmullen Road in the early hours of 17 March, 2024.

At 2.30am, Gardaí received a call from a taxi driver who found the body of Mr Mac Eneaney. They called an ambulance after arriving at the scene, but realised he had passed from catastrophic injuries.

The 28-year-old Mr Ball was stationed at Drogheda Garda station at the time and had been out drinking with colleagues before returning to the station at 1.56am to get his car, with the accident happening around two minutes later.

Gardaí found a registration plate on the road and realised it belonged to their colleague, who at the time was 'couch surfing' with friends in Donore.

They visited the premises at around 4.20am and found a 'clearly intoxicated' Mr Ball in a near 'comatose' sleep.

After being shaken awake, he admitted to not remembering driving home and became upset when Gardaí revealed a man had died in the accident.

In a powerful victim impact statement, Mr MacEaney's wife, Grace Martin, said: “He stole a huge part of me when he stole my husband.

“Michael Ball was a trained member of An Garda Siochana. He had a duty of care, a protector, a hero.

“That man is no hero. That man is a coward. What made you decide to train as a garda?”

“I couldn’t bear to be in my own home but now I can barely leave my home.

“When I met Niall 21 years ago, I wasn’t looking for a relationship or marriage but I let my guard down, I fell in love and felt protected and loved and Niall was my best friend.”

“I never got the chance to say goodbye and miss him every day. I am angry, heartbroken and I don’t know if I will ever be the same.”