Courts / Tipperary / Report
Drunk and high man whose driving killed friend avoids prison for second time
Summary
Phelim Coady, aged 24, avoided prison for a second time after a Court of Appeal decision. He had been convicted of dangerous driving causing death, driving a dangerously deficient vehicle, and driving while intoxicated with alcohol and cannabis, and without insurance. The original sentence of two years and six months' imprisonment was fully suspended, and he received a four‑year driving ban. The Court of Appeal quashed that sentence, ruling it too lenient, but imposed a new non‑custodial term of four and a half years, with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended portion and a two‑year custodial term suspended for three years. The driving ban remained unchanged. The judge noted Coady's remorse, mental fragility, and the mitigating influence of his friend's family's plea not to jail him. The case involved the fatal crash on 30 June 2019, when Stephen Gleeson, 21, was thrown from a Toyota Starlet and died. The other three occupants survived uninjured. Phelim Coady pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Drunk and high man whose driving killed friend avoids prison for second time. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing death, contrary to section 53 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, and driving a dangerously deficient vehicle contrary to sections 54 (1) and (4) of the same act. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- June 30, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 7, 2020 Other
- October 18 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-11-25 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: dangerous driving causing death, contrary to section 53 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, and driving a dangerously deficient vehicle contrary to sections 54 (1) and (4) of the same act (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: On October 7, 2020, Judge Patrick Meghan sentenced Coady, of Garrykennedy, Portroe, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, to two years and six months' imprisonment, which the judge suspended entirely. Imposing a new sentence of four-and-a-half years, she said Coady was entitled to receive a two-and-half year suspended portion.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Appeal
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