Ciaran Lane jailed for dangerous driving causing toddler’s death

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Ciaran Lane was sentenced to seven years, with the final two suspended, at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 19 April 2016 for dangerous driving causing the death of Vanessa Siatka. The fatal collision happened at the Ratra Roundabout in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on 6 April 2015.

Lane had pleaded guilty and was driving after consuming a litre of vodka and two grams of cocaine. The court heard that he struck 23-month-old Vanessa, left the scene and later handed himself in at Cabra Garda station.

Judge Patrick McCartan described it as the worst dangerous-driving case he had encountered. Lane was also banned from driving for 20 years, and the suspended part of the sentence was conditional on remaining free from drugs and alcohol.