Courts / Donegal / Report
Sentence doubled for Donegal man over worst case of dangerous driving in Irish history
Summary
A man from Buncrana, Co Donegal, has had his sentence doubled following a Court of Appeal finding that his original jail term was unduly lenient. Shaun Kelly, aged 27, had pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the deaths of eight men on a road between Clonmany and Buncrana on 11 July 2010. He was originally sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final two suspended. The Court of Appeal set aside this sentence and re-sentenced Kelly to eight years imprisonment with the final four suspended. Mr Justice George Birmingham described the incident as the worst road traffic accident in the history of the State. The judge noted Kelly's high culpability, the multiple fatalities, and his previous conviction for dangerous driving, whilst acknowledging mitigating factors including his youth, guilty plea, and the extraordinary generosity shown by victims' families. Kelly was also disqualified from driving for ten years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Sentence doubled for Donegal man over worst case of dangerous driving in Irish history. 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
Why: The court did not interfere with the 10-year disqualification because, the judge said, he had been earning a living in transport and increasing the disqualification "might hamper rehabilitation". CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: dangerous driving causing the death of eight men on a road between Clonmany and Buncrana on July 11 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Judge John O'Hagan in December last. Accordingly, the court re-sentenced him to eight years imprisonment with the final four suspended.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Letterkenny
- Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court
- Another road
Topics
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