Courts / Cork / Report
7-year sentence imposed on drunk driver who caused death of one woman and paralysed another was "out of line", appeal court finds
Summary
Sean Casey, 27, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving that killed 22‑year‑old Megan Johnston and seriously injured 24‑year‑old Kate Petford, leaving her paralysed. He was sentenced by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to seven years' imprisonment and a 30‑year driving disqualification on 17 February 2014. The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal on 31 July 2015, found the sentence "out of line" with other dangerous‑driving cases. Judge Garrett Sheehan noted that in eight comparable cases the Court of Appeal had imposed sentences below five years, and that the judge had erred by placing Casey's case at the absolute apex of the dangerous‑driving scale. The appeal was remitted for a new sentence, with the Court of Appeal not adopting the Director of Public Prosecutions' request for guidelines in this case.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 7-year sentence imposed on drunk driver who caused death of one woman and paralysed another was "out of line", appeal court finds. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing the death of Megan Johnston (22) and causing serious bodily harm to Kate Petford (24) who was left paralysed following the crash at Skibbereen on April 8 2013. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- April 8 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 17 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 19 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-07-31 Publication
Why: The car keys came back to him because of a friend's representations to the barmaid who had taken them. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: dangerous driving causing the death of Megan Johnston (22) and causing serious bodily harm to Kate Petford (24) who was left paralysed following the crash at Skibbereen on April 8 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to seven years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 30 years by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on February 17 2014. In all but two of the eight cases, sentences of below five years were imposed.; Mr Justice Sheehan said the court wished to give careful consideration to the question of imposing a new sentence and the matter was put back to October 19 next.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- €60m cocaine conspiracy accused fails in bid to have bail refusal overturned
- Dutch woman offered €30k surety for friend after reading news article on €60m drugs seizure
- Dutch teacher sold house to provide surety for alleged cocaine smuggler
- 'Narco boat' conspirators get combined 70 years as judge notes they 'totally underestimated' local communities and law enforcement
- Failed rendezvous at sea - Court hears of foiled smuggling operation off south coast
- Spanish national admits to drug conspiracy
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request