Courts / Dublin / Report
French woman was holding hands with partner when her death was caused by drug-dealing pickup driver on city street
Summary
In a Dublin city street incident on 11 December 2021, a French tourist, Alicia Guilleux, 31, and her partner were crossing South Great George Street hand‑in‑hand when Shaun Kelly, 33, driving a Ford Ranger, turned right from Fade Street and collided with them. Mr Avril was pushed clear, but Ms Guilleux was dragged beneath the vehicle, sustaining catastrophic injuries that led to her death two days later. Kelly, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and to possession of ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and TCP for sale. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing evidence and CCTV, found Kelly's failure to notice the pedestrians was a human error. He imposed a one‑year custodial sentence, suspended in full, and disqualified Kelly from driving for one year. The judge would decide on the drug offence the following day. The case highlighted the tragic outcome of a momentary lapse in attention on the road.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: French woman was holding hands with partner when her death was caused by drug-dealing pickup driver on city street. Charges or matters: careless driving causing the death of Ms Guilleux at South Great George Street, Dublin 2, on December 11, 2021; possession of ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and TCP, a hallucinogenic drug, on the same occasion for sale or supply. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 11, 2021 Incident
- March 2022 Other
- 2024-03-11 Publication
Why: Her mother said her favourite phrase had been: "Enjoy life, because you only get one. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: careless driving causing the death of Ms Guilleux at South Great George Street, Dublin 2, on December 11, 2021; possession of ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and TCP, a hallucinogenic drug, on the same occasion for sale or supply (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) A drug dealer who caused the death of a French tourist by dragging her beneath his Ford Ranger pickup as she crossed a Dublin city street has avoided a custodial term for that offence, but must wait overnight to see if he will be jailed for the narcotics charge. He imposed a sentence of one year which he suspended in full and disqualified Kelly from driving for one year.
Places mentioned
- Dublin city
- Fade Street
- George Street
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Fade Street
- South Great George Street
- George Street
- South Great George Street
- Dublin
- and brought to the garda station
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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