Courts / Dublin / Report
Drunk driver who caused the death of his best friend in taxi smash is jailed
Summary
In a Dublin court, Joseph Robinson, aged 25, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for the death of his best friend, Alex Doyle, also aged 25, after Robinson, driving a taxi while intoxicated and without a licence, crashed into a pole on 8 June 2014. Witnesses saw Robinson leave the wreck, leaving Doyle, who suffered fatal head injuries and a severed arm, on the ground. Robinson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance. The judge noted Robinson's long criminal history of 58 convictions, including drug and drink‑driving offences, and his disqualification from driving at the time. Robinson was also disqualified from driving for seven years and the sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence. The court emphasised the tragedy for both families and the need for rehabilitation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Drunk driver who caused the death of his best friend in taxi smash is jailed. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Doyle at Mount Brown, Old Kilmainham on June 8, 2014; dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving with no license or insurance at Mount Brown and Tyrconnell Road on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 8, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-01-26 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Doyle at Mount Brown, Old Kilmainham on June 8, 2014; dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving with no license or insurance at Mount Brown and Tyrconnell Road on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Nolan said Robinson had shown a "total disregard for the law of the country and the norms of society" by driving in a dangerous way, at speed, while drunk, at a time when he had been disqualified from driving. He said Robinson had been disqualified from driving at the time and had been over twice the alcohol limit.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Tyrconnell Road
- Cuffe Street
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- St James's Hospital
- National Remedial Hospital
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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