By David Raleigh
A man who died in a road accident this morning tragically lost a teenage son in another car crash involving a former Irish rugby star almost 10 years ago.
The victim of this morning's accident in Co Limerick has been named locally as 53-year-old James Walsh, who was living in the Kilmallock area.
Mr Walsh's son, Kevin, (aged 16), was killed on April 1, 2006, when a parked car he was sitting on the back seat of was hit from behind by former Irish and Munster rugby player Eddie Halvey.
Mr Halvey, who failed a roadside breath test, was recorded as being nearly four times over the legal alcohol limit.
The former International rugby player received a seven-month suspended jail sentence in 2009, after he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, and to careless driving.
Gardaí at Charleville, Co Cork are investigating this morning's single-vehicle collision, which occurred just into the Limerick border at Ballincolly, Kilmallock.
James Walsh, who was alone in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 1.30am this morning.
His body has been removed to Cork University Hospital for a post mortem.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses.
A source said this afternoon: "It's an awful tragedy for everyone concerned."
"It's an awful shock," said another source.
"It's going to bring back awful memories for Kevin's mother. It's a terrible time for them now."
In 2009, after Mr Halvey received a suspended sentence, Kevin Walsh's mother, Kate Tierney Walsh, accused judges of sending the wrong message to drink drivers.
"It sent out the wrong message to everyone in Ireland today," Ms Tierney Walsh added.
"Go out, play sports for Ireland, drink drive, you can kill someone and you won't get punished in court for it, that is the reality."
During her victim impact statement, the brave mother of two told Nenagh court, how Mr Halvey robbed her of a lifetime with Kevin.
At the time she said she still purchased her dead son the latest Liverpool jersey to put it on his grave.
"Eddie Halvey has handed us a life sentence of emptiness and pain," she said.
Turning to face Mr Halvey in court, Ms Tierney Walsh said she could never forgive or forget him for his "ignorance and selfishness" and "for killing my small man, Kevin".
Mrs Walsh said Mr Halvey's apology in the court came three years too late: "He could have done it the week after, and it wouldn't have been half as hard on me today, but what can I do?".
In April 2010, a jury at Kevin Walsh's inquest returned a verdict that his death was not accidental, but was due to misadventure.
Nenagh Coroner Joe Kelly said the boy's death was "tragic and unnecessary".
Kevin Walsh had been sitting in the rear of his uncle Vincent Tierney's red BMW when it was struck from behind by a Toyota Landcruiser, driven by Mr Halvey, on the old Dublin-Limerick road, at Coole, Toomevara, Co Tipperary.
A roadside breath test carried out by Gardaí showed a reading of 83 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
Gardaí established the BMW, carrying Kevin Walsh and his uncles, was stationary at the time of the impact.
Mr Halvey's jeep was travelling at a minimum of 69km/h when the impact took place.
Speaking after the inquest, Ms Tierney Walsh said: "We will have pain for the rest of our lives but at least we’ll get on with it for Kevin."
