Courts / Donegal / Report
Appeal court considering new sentence for man whose dangerous driving caused the deaths of eight people
Summary
The Court of Appeal in Letterkenny is reconsidering the sentence imposed on a Buncrana man convicted of dangerous driving that caused eight deaths on a Donegal road in July 2010. Shaun Kelly, aged 27, had pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court to the fatal collision between Clonmany and Buncrana. He received four years imprisonment with the final two years suspended, plus a ten-year driving disqualification. The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully challenged the sentence as unduly lenient, citing it as the most serious fatal collision and dangerous driving case in the State's history. The Court of Appeal agreed and commenced re-sentencing proceedings. During proceedings, the court received impact statements from three victims' families. Mr Justice George Birmingham stressed that while victim submissions warrant consideration, they cannot determine sentencing, which remains a matter of public prosecution by the State. The court indicated it would deliver its re-sentencing decision on the same day.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Appeal court considering new sentence for man whose dangerous driving caused the deaths of eight people. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing the death of eight men on a road between Clonmany and Buncrana on July 11 2010. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- July 11 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-12-07 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: dangerous driving causing the death of eight men on a road between Clonmany and Buncrana on July 11 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Shaun Kelly's original sentence of four years imprisonment with the final two suspended was "unduly lenient". He was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Judge John O'Hagan in December last.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Letterkenny
- Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Sentence doubled for Donegal man over worst case of dangerous driving in Irish history
- Two-year jail term for worst case of dangerous driving in history of the State is found too lenient
- Two-year jail term imposed on man whose dangerous driving caused eight deaths was "unduly lenient", DPP tells court
- Prosecutors to argue in October that two-year jail term imposed on man whose dangerous driving killed 8 people was 'too lenient'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request