Courts / Dublin / Report
Banned, repeat offender drove wrong way down N7 and killed motorist
Summary
Thomas Doran, 29, with 64 prior convictions, was jailed for six years after driving the wrong way on the N7 dual carriageway in the early hours of 21 September 2020. Doran, who was on bail and disqualified from driving for ten years, drove 700 metres against traffic before colliding head‑on with a Toyota Yaris. The collision killed driver Anatolie Butucel and seriously injured passenger Serghei Grigoras and Doran's uncle Patrick Connors. Doran was uncooperative at the scene, refusing to give details and telling Gardaí to "fuck off." He was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and serious bodily harm. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years but, after considering Doran's guilty plea, remorse, €1,500 payment to Grigoras, and his poor mental health, imposed a final sentence of six and a half years with the last six months suspended on strict conditions, and a 20‑year driving disqualification.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Banned, repeat offender drove wrong way down N7 and killed motorist. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Butucel and causing serious bodily harm to Mr Grigoras and Mr Connors at N7 Naas dual carriage way on September 21, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 21, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2020 Other
- October 8, 2020 Incident
- 2021-12-07 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Butucel and causing serious bodily harm to Mr Grigoras and Mr Connors at N7 Naas dual carriage way on September 21, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She set a headline sentence of eight years but took into account Doran's guilty plea, expression of remorse, including the fact that he €1,500 in court for Mr Grigoras, his adverse life experiences, poor mental health and addictions. Judge Greally sentenced Doran to six and a half years in prison with the final six months suspended on strict conditions including that he engage with the Probation Service for 12 months upon his ultimate release from prison.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Pair jailed for preying on innocent shooting victim in 'vicious extortion racket'
- 'Fun loving' drug dealer jailed over possession of €90k in crime cash
- 'I'm doing my job as a mum': court hears exchange between mother and accused son
- Separated husband spared conviction despite alleged threat to throw former wife out window
- Serial criminal set car ablaze after release from Melanie McCarthy-McNamara manslaughter sentence
- Drug dealer further sentenced for 'crudely' laundering own crime cash
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request