A male individual, Kieran Fogarty (20), from Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, has been detained following his confession of guilt to driving hazardously which resulted in a hit-and-run, tragically culminating in the demise of a journalism student last year. The incident led to an array of charges centred around the unfortunate passing of Joseph ‘Joe’ Drennan.
Mr Drennan, a native of Mountrath, County Laois, was stationed at a bus stop in Limerick when he confronted his unfortunate fate through Mr Fogarty’s reckless operation of a black automobile on 13th October, 2023. The bereaving family of Mr Drennan, including his parents Tim and Marguerite, were attending the court hearing, labelled as a “sensitive matter” by prosecutor John O’Sullivan.
Ten charges in total have come to fruition from the lethal accident that Mr Fogarty confessed to, these include: causing Mr Drennan’s death due to perilous driving, causing criminal damage to an automobile at the scene, two counts of failing to assist Mr Drennan – one of which included the knowledge that Mr Drennan had sustained severe injuries or was dead, two counts of neglect in reporting the deadly accident, refusing to provide requisite information to the Gardaí, perilous driving, driving without insurance and driving minus a licence.
Prosecutor John O’Sullivan stated that Mr Fogarty had not responded when arrested, charged and forewarned by the Gardaí last year. He also accepted a signed admission of guilt for an array of offences associated with three distinct cases.
Addressing the Drennan family, Judge Colin Daly conveyed his sympathy for their devastating loss and ordered Mr Fogarty to remain in custody pending sentencing on 13th December.