Courts / Sligo / Report
Mayo man loses dangerous driving causing serious harm sentence appeal but has driving ban reduced
Summary
A Mayo man has failed in his appeal against a six-year prison sentence imposed for dangerous driving that caused serious injury to his front seat passenger, though the Court of Appeal has reduced his driving disqualification from twenty years to twelve years. Martin Kearney, aged 33, from Ballina, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm arising from an incident on 30 September 2010 near Sligo Town. Kearney had driven a BMW M3 at speeds exceeding 150 kilometres per hour over a distance of 2.6 kilometres before losing control. The vehicle mounted barriers, somersaulted, and came to rest 80 to 100 metres beyond the road surface. His front seat passenger sustained devastating injuries requiring twenty-four-hour care. Kearney himself sustained considerable injuries. Sentencing him in June 2012 at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court, Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended and imposed a twenty-year driving ban.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mayo man loses dangerous driving causing serious harm sentence appeal but has driving ban reduced. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious harm on September 30 2010. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- September 30 2010 Incident
- June 14 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-12-04 Publication
Why: All of this came about because of speed and the way Kearney drove his car, Mr Justice Ryan said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: dangerous driving causing serious harm on September 30 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court on June 14 2012. Kearney successfully reduced his driving disqualification todayin the Court of Appeal but failed in his appeal against sentence.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Sligo
- Sligo Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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