Courts / Dublin / Report

Driver who killed man in "road rage homicide" has sentence reduced on appeal

Date
2015-01-19

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Karl Donohoe, 33, of Ringsend, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Ray Bates, 49, at a junction in Sandymount on 26 September 2010. The original 12‑year sentence, with the last two years suspended, was deemed too severe by the Court of Appeal. The appeal court, led by Justice Seán Ryan, found that the circumstances—both men driving in the same direction, a brief altercation after a traffic light, and Donohoe's use of a hurley to strike Bates—did not justify a "category of gravity" warranting the full term. The court reduced the sentence to ten years, suspending the final two years, and imposed a €1,000 bond for good behaviour during the suspended period. The decision was based solely on the facts presented in the trial and the appellate judges' assessment of mitigating factors. The summary reflects the procedural outcome as stated in the article.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Driver who killed man in "road rage homicide" has sentence reduced on appeal. Charges or matters: the manslaughter of Mr Ray Bates at the junction of Tritonville Road and Sandymount Road on September 26, 2010. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

September 26, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
April 23, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
September 30, 2010 Incident
2015-01-19 Publication

Case subjects

Karl Donohoe

Appellant

Charges: the manslaughter of Mr Ray Bates at the junction of Tritonville Road and Sandymount Road on September 26, 2010 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court on April 23, 2012. Accordingly, the court imposed a ten year sentence on Donohoe and suspended the final two years.