Waltham Abbey: Two jailed for man's death

A man and a teenager convicted of killing Neil Darnell in Waltham Abbey earlier this year have been jailed.

A 17-year-old boy from Cheshunt was behind the wheel of a car that hit local man Neil on Friday 16 April.

Patrick O’Driscoll, 18, (L in picture) from Hertford, was the passenger.

They had been attempting to pursue a cyclist following an earlier altercation in Market Square, Waltham Abbey that morning.

While following the man at speed in a damaged BMW, they hit 50-year-old Neil, a completely innocent pedestrian, who had been crossing the junction at Farm Hill Road. Sadly, he died in hospital two days later from a traumatic brain injury.

On Monday 8 November, at Chelmsford Crown Court, a jury found both the 17-year-old and O’Driscoll guilty of causing Neil’s death (right in picture).

The driver of the car was found guilty of murder and O’Driscoll found guilty of manslaughter.

At the same court today (Tuesday 21 December), driver sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years, passenger Patrick O’Driscoll sentenced to 8 years imprisonment

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood said:

“Even after they had hit and fatally injured an innocent man, they still continued to drive dangerously to follow the cyclist.
“They didn’t stop their vehicle, call for help or make any attempt to help Neil. Instead, they fled the scene and dumped the car to try and cover their tracks.
“I don’t think they had a care for who they would possibly injure that day.
“Although this result can’t bring back the loving husband and father Neil’s family have lost, I hope they will find some relief knowing that they are now rightfully behind bars.”