‘The most tragic outcome’: judge clears woman in teen’s fatal accident at Kerry birthday celebration

By Anna Zacharias, The Kerryman

After a long investigation and years of pain, a judge has struck out charges against a young woman for failure to remain at the scene of an accident in Duagh that left a teenager dead in 2023.

Ellie Lyons (23) of Knocknasnaa, Abbeyfeale, Limerick appeared before Judge Waters at Listowel District Court last Thursday.

Solicitor Pat Mann told the court his client had attended a double 18th birthday party in October, 2023. As she drove along the road, two people jumped on the boot of her vehicle. One suffered minor injuries and the other, Joseph Nelligan, died.

“They were all friends and all attending the same birthday party,” said the solicitor.

He noted his client had not known what occurred and was “shocked and horrified by the matter”.

Ms Lyons faced charges from October 17, 2023 for failing to immediately report the occurrence to An Garda Siochána and failing to remain at the scene.

Sergeant Stephen O’Brien said she had likely left the scene without knowing “the most tragic outcome” had occurred.

Mr Mann said the investigation had been significant.

“There has been an extensive investigation in this,” he said. “The book is the biggest I’ve seen in a long, long time.”

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Ms Lyons is a full-time truck driver and enrolling for an MA degree, the solicitor said before appealing to the judge. “Perhaps you might consider giving her the ultimate freedom in this matter.”

The judge asked Sgt O’Brien if it was alleged Ms Lyons knew something had happened when she left the scene.

“The first she became aware of it is when she heard a scream,” said the sergeant.

He said she had driven up a hill and looked back in her mirror and saw two people on the ground. She parked to the side of the road and left after she was assured, “everything will be ok”. She was not there when gardaí arrived.

Judge David Waters said Ms Lyons could not be held responsible for the tragedy.

“There was no blame attached directly to her from the tragedy that occurred,” he concluded.