Courts / Galway / Report

Driver given community service for causing serious harm will be jailed after appeal

Date
2021-07-15

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Galway

County
Galway

Summary

In 2021, Niall Conneely, 48, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm and driving without insurance after a crash on 27 October 2018 that left father and son Sanghodara and Manoj Kataram seriously injured. The initial sentencing judge, citing Manoj's "exceptional level of charity" in his plea for mercy, imposed a four‑year prison term but suspended the final three years, ordering 240 hours of community service instead. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, after hearing the case, found the original sentence too light and re‑sentenced Conneely to four years in prison, suspending the final three years. Conneely entered a bond for good behaviour for the suspended period and agreed to report to Garda Station as required. The decision was made by Justice Birmingham, Justice McCarthy and Justice Kennedy. The case remains at the appellate stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Driver given community service for causing serious harm will be jailed after appeal. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious harm and driving without insurance. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

October 27 Hearing Or Sentence
2021-07-15 Publication

Case subjects

Niall Conneely

Defendant

Charges: dangerous driving causing serious harm and driving without insurance (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: However, on hearing the victim impact statement of the young student, he said he would order Conneely to perform 240 hours of community service in lieu of the four years. "In the absence of the charitable attitude of the principal injured party I would have been reluctant to suspend any part of the sentence," he remarked. "I'm mindful that justice must be viewed through the prism of the victims, not just the public," he added. Justice Birmingham, who sat with Justice Patrick McCarthy and Justice Isobel Kennedy, then re-sentenced him to four years in prison, but suspended the final three.