Courts / Kildare / Report
Serial driving offender who left law student with catastrophic injuries drops appeal
Summary
Paul Connolly, 38, of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Co Kildare, dropped his appeal against an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence imposed by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2019. Connolly had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Michael Igoe, 54, and Francis Dhala, 19, after driving onto a busy footpath while under the influence of drugs on Coolmine Road on 1 May 2018. The incident left Dhala, a law student, with a catastrophic brain injury. Connolly was driving his young child to school at the time and had a 25‑year driving ban and had been released from prison a month earlier. He also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence. The judge, Melanie Greally, imposed the sentence but suspended the final 18 months.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Serial driving offender who left law student with catastrophic injuries drops appeal. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Michael Igoe (54) and Francis Dhala (19) at Coolmine Road, Coolmine on May 1, 2018; driving under the influence of drugs; possession of cannabis; failing to remain at the scene; failing to offer assistance; failing to alert gardaí; as well as driving without insurance or a driving licence on the same occasion. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 1, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-09-17 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Michael Igoe (54) and Francis Dhala (19) at Coolmine Road, Coolmine on May 1, 2018; driving under the influence of drugs; possession of cannabis; failing to remain at the scene; failing to offer assistance; failing to alert gardaí; as well as driving without insurance or a driving licence on the same occasion (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Paul Connolly (38), of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Co Kildare, were due to appeal the sentence imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2019 after he had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Michael Igoe (54) and Francis Dhala (19) at Coolmine Road, Coolmine on May 1, 2018. Before the break, Mr Justice John Edwards presiding, with Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, had advised Connolly of the court's powers to either reduce or increase the original sentence in appeal cases.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Appeal
Related court reports
- Hit-and-run driver "calmly" left scene
- Serial road offender on drugs when he hit seriously injured pedestrians
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