Longford Circuit Court has heard how a man had to learn how to read and write again following a hit and run in Edgeworthstown almost three years ago.
Aaron Cassidy of Cranleymore, Edgeworthstown, was jailed for five years following the incident in September 2017.
The court heard that father of two Stephen Roche was on the road outside a bar in Edgeworthstown when the incident occurred
The accused drove his White transit van around Mr Roche and a colleague in a circle and on the second time of attempting the maneuver he hit Mr Roche with the van.
Cassidy left the scene and the van was later abandoned in a bog but was never discovered by Gardai.
The accused was described as being very intoxicated on the night and later told a doctor he had no recollection of the accident.
Mr Roche suffered a brain injury as well as a broken leg as a result of the crash and Judge Johnson claimed the father of two's victim impact statement was one of the most harrowing and profound he has heard and claimed that it should be mandatory reading for all learner drivers to understand the devastation that intoxicated drivers cause to innocent people.
Cassidy prepared a handwritten letter of remorse to Mr Roche but Judge Johnson said he was not impressed by comments made to a probation officer by the accused that claimed he accepted no responsibility for the incident and had little victim empathy.
Cassidy was sentenced to six years in jail - with the final year suspended for ten years on a number of conditions and was disqualified from driving for ten years.
