Suspended sentence for drunk driver who crashed into nurse was "too lenient"

Alan Craughwell (35) of Athlone, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm following a collision with a nurse on December 24, 2017 at Taghmaconnell, Co Roscommon. He had been travelling with more than twice the legal alcohol limit and narrowly missed six oncoming vehicles before striking the victim's car. The Circuit Court imposed a fully suspended two-and-a-half year sentence in May 2019. The Court of Appeal found this sentence unduly lenient and re-sentenced Craughwell to two-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended. Mr Justice George Birmingham described the driving as "sustained, rank bad driving" rather than isolated poor judgement. The victim, a nurse, sustained serious injuries including fractured ankles and experienced significant disruption to her working life and family activities. Craughwell's ten-year driving ban remained in effect, and he was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended portion of his sentence.