Courts / Dublin / Report

Disqualified driver set fire to his van after fatal hit-and-run

Summary

Patrick Morgan, 28, was jailed for five years after he hit and killed jogger Karl Robertson, 28, in a hit‑and‑run on Hazelwood Drive, Artane, on 8 March 2017. Morgan, who had no fixed abode and had been disqualified from driving, failed to stop, offer assistance or remain at the scene. He later drove his van to a nearby housing estate and set it alight "out of panic." He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop, failing to offer assistance and leaving the scene. The court noted Morgan's 47 prior convictions and three previous disqualifications. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five‑year sentence, a ten‑year driving disqualification and highlighted the aggravating factors of speed, disqualification, escape and destruction of the vehicle. The Robertson family expressed deep anger and grief, describing their son as caring, diligent and loving.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Disqualified driver set fire to his van after fatal hit-and-run. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 8, 2017 Incident
• 2018-06-01 Publication

Why: "It was a valuable plea because a jury may have had a difficulty inferring circumstances as there were no witnesses," he said. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report