Courts / Dublin / Report

Dealer who caused death of French tourist avoids jail for second time with suspended sentence on drugs charges

Date
2024-03-12

Stage
Sentence

Court
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

Shaun Kelly, 33, received a suspended three‑year prison term for selling drugs, a separate offence from the careless driving that caused the death of French tourist Alicia Guilleux. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, found Kelly had been engaged in drug dealing at the time but deemed the activity not extensive. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, warning that any re‑offence would lead to jail. The court also dealt with the careless driving charge, where Kelly's vehicle dragged Guilleux beneath a Ford Ranger as she crossed South Great George Street. The judge noted Kelly's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and the absence of aggravating factors, and suspended the one‑year custodial term for that offence, disqualifying him from driving for one year. The decision was made after reviewing evidence, CCTV footage and witness statements, with no intoxication or excessive speed involved.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dealer who caused death of French tourist avoids jail for second time with suspended sentence on drugs charges. 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
2024-03-12 Publication

Why: Her mother said her favourite phrase had been: "Enjoy life, because you only get one. CNI source report

Case subjects

Shaun Kelly

Defendant

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: He imposed a three-year term of imprisonment which he suspended in full on strict conditions, warning Kelly that if he re-offended, he would go to jail. He imposed a sentence of one year which he suspended in full and disqualified Kelly from driving for one year.