Courts / Cork / Report
Court of Appeal to consider setting guidelines in cases of dangerous driving causing death
Summary
The Court of Appeal will consider whether to set sentencing guidelines for cases of dangerous driving causing death. The suggestion was made by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan in the case of Seán Casey, 27, of Cooragannive, Skibbereen, who was jailed last year for seven years for dangerous driving that caused the death of a 22‑year‑old woman and the paralysis of her friend. Casey was driving at 80 km/h, four times the legal limit, when he entered a roundabout. His barrister, Tom Creed SC, argued that the sentencing judge had placed Casey's offence "at the apex" of dangerous‑driving‑causing‑death cases before mitigation was applied. The maximum sentence for the offence is ten years imprisonment. Mr Justice Sheehan said the three‑judge court would consider setting guidelines, following the precedent of the Fitzgibbon guidelines for assault causing serious harm and the Ryan guidelines for possession of a firearm.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court of Appeal to consider setting guidelines in cases of dangerous driving causing death. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- July 9 Other
- 2015-06-23 Publication
Why: Mr Staines said cases involving dangerous driving causing death had become very difficult to balance because they were not the result of intended actions. CNI source report
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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