Courts / Cork / Report
Speeding teen who caused death of Kimberly O'Connor has sentence reduced
Summary
Daniel Wyse, 18, of Killiney Heights, Cork, had his sentence reduced after an appeal. He had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving that caused the death of 16‑year‑old Kimberly O'Connor and serious injury to a 17‑year‑old male passenger in a crash on Harbour View Road in February 2020, when he was 16. He also pleaded guilty to failing to stop, driving without a licence and insurance, and failing to give gardaí appropriate information. The original sentence was four years detention followed by four years supervision, a 15‑year driving ban, and restrictions on naming him. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reduced the detention to six years, suspended the final 18 months of the remaining four years for 18 months, and reduced the driving ban to ten years. The appeal was based on the fact that Wyse was a juvenile and had no prior convictions.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Speeding teen who caused death of Kimberly O'Connor has sentence reduced. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing the death of his passenger Kimberly O'Connor and causing serious bodily harm to another male passenger at a hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court last March; failing to stop, driving without a licence and insurance and failing to give gardaí appropriate information on Harbour View Road in Knocknaheeny in February 2020. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-01-28 Publication
Why: The judge also lifted restrictions on naming the defendant, which would have been in place because he was a juvenile, saying it would be in the public interest his name was known given the length of the driving ban. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: dangerous driving causing the death of his passenger Kimberly O'Connor and causing serious bodily harm to another male passenger at a hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court last March; failing to stop, driving without a licence and insurance and failing to give gardaí appropriate information on Harbour View Road in Knocknaheeny in February 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Sentencing Wyse to four years detention followed by four years supervision, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin also imposed a 15-year driving ban. Jane Hyland BL, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that although the sentence imposed could be considered as "severe" it was still within the discretion of the judge.
Places mentioned
- Killiney Heights
- Cork city
- Cork
- Cork Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Harbour View Road
Topics
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