Courts / Limerick / Report

Gangland criminal who caused death of student in notorious hit-and-run gets further five years in jail

Date
2025-11-06

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

Kieran Fogarty, aged 21, was resentenced by the Court of Appeal to a total of 14 years in prison, with the final year suspended, after the original eight‑year sentence was deemed unduly lenient. The appeal concerned his role in the fatal hit‑and‑run that killed 21‑year‑old student Joe Drennan on Dublin Road, Limerick, on 13 October 2023. CCTV showed Fogarty driving at 100–122 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, colliding with Drennan's car, then wiping the steering wheel for 14 seconds before fleeing. The Court of Appeal also addressed his other offences: a drive‑by shooting and a drugs‑for‑sale charge. Sentences for the firearms offence and the drugs charge were reduced to eight and four years respectively, while the dangerous‑driving‑causing‑death sentence was set at eight years, to run concurrently with the firearms sentence. Fogarty was disqualified from driving for 20 years. Kieran Fogarty pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gangland criminal who caused death of student in notorious hit-and-run gets further five years in jail. Charges or matters: charges in respect of Mr Drennan's death by dangerous driving at Dublin Road, Limerick, on October 13, 2023. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

October 13, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
2025-11-06 Publication

Case subjects

Kieran Fogarty

Defendant

Charges: charges in respect of Mr Drennan's death by dangerous driving at Dublin Road, Limerick, on October 13, 2023 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Last January, Fogarty, of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, was sentenced by Judge Colin Daly at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to six and a half years after he pleaded guilty to charges in respect of Mr Drennan's death by dangerous driving at Dublin Road, Limerick, on October 13, 2023. Counsel said that Fogarty was also sentenced for a drive-by shooting in broad daylight in Limerick city which was part of "a feud", during which Fogarty was the driver of the vehicle and had been consuming illicit substances before and after the shooting.