Courts / Sligo / Report
Drunk, uninsured driver to pay €20k fine after leaving cyclists with life-changing injuries
Summary
The Court of Appeal has added a €20,000 fine to the sentence of Muiris Flynn, a 31-year-old appellant, following a successful DPP appeal against the undue leniency of his original sentence. Flynn pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving, and driving without insurance at Doon near Boyle on September 24th, 2017. The original sentence, imposed by Judge Francis Comerford, was four years in prison for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, with the final two and a half years suspended, alongside concurrent disqualifications for the other charges. The three-judge appellate court, presided over by Justice John Edwards, found the original sentence unduly lenient and nominated a headline sentence of six years. However, considering Flynn's release from prison, his finding of new employment, and the interests of justice in promoting reform, the court decided not to increase the custodial element. Instead, they suspended the unserved balance of the newly imposed three-year term and imposed the substantial €20,000 fine. The court re-imposed the same driving disqualifications as the circuit court, acknowledging the adverse impact on Flynn's social and working life but deeming it an appropriate response to the devastating harm caused to the victims.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Drunk, uninsured driver to pay €20k fine after leaving cyclists with life-changing injuries. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving, and driving without insurance at Doon near Boyle on September 24th, 2017. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- September 24th, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-10-30 Publication
Why: However, he submitted that the judge had to fix his sentence in the mid-range for that offence and, because he did so, there was no error. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving, and driving without insurance at Doon near Boyle on September 24th, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Francis Comerford sentenced him to four years in prison for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, with the final two and a half years suspended. He imposed a concurrent four-month sentence and three-year disqualification on the drink driving charge and a concurrent three-year disqualification for driving without insurance.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Crash Roscommon Circuit Court
- Roscommon
- Tallaght
- Tallaght Hospital
Topics
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