A youthful male, Shaun Kelly (33), who drove recklessly resulting in the tragic death of a young French lady, has been spared a prison term for that mishap. Yet, he still anticipates a potential sentence for drug-related offences. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court listened to the tale of Alicia Guilleux (31) and her companion Florian Avril, who had been visiting Ireland for birthday celebrations when they were hit by an SUV piloted by Shaun Kelly. The tragic incident occurred as they hand-in-hand crossed a Dublin central street.
Kelly was manoeuvring his vehicle from a lesser-known road, Fade Street, onto South Great George’s Street. Florian Avril was violently pushed aside by the vehicle, but Alicia Guilleux was heartbreakingly dragged under the Ford Ranger and suffered grave injuries. Her injuries were so severe that she passed away in hospital two days later.
Alicia was fondly remembered by her family as a refined, vivacious young lady noted for her generosity. She was a lover of travel and had aspirations for commencing her own enterprise. Her mother emotionally shared that Alicia’s most cherished saying was, “Make the most of life, as you’re only granted one.”
Florian Avril recounted fond memories of Alicia’s ethos, revealing how she used to inspire him to cherish every moment. He confessed to grieving her demise daily since the unfortunate incident, labelling it the most devastating day in his life.
Upon testing, Kelly was found free from any intoxication. However, discovery of drugs in his car has since led him to confess he had been in that locality for the purpose of drug dealing.
Shaun Kelly, residing in Thornhill Gardens, Celbridge, Kildare, pleaded guilty to reckless driving that led to the untimely death of Alicia Guilleux at South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2, on December 11th, 2021. His additional admission of guilty was for possessing ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, and TCP for sale or supply on that same day.
Delivering his judgement on Monday, Judge Martin Nolan mentioned that the incident was a lamentable mishap, whilst extending his heartfelt condolences to all parties affected. He proclaimed that the demise of Alicia Guilleux had created a significant void that cannot be filled in the lives of those impacted. On conclusion, he stated that after reviewing all evidence and CCTV footage, he believed that Kelly had made a fatal error. He added that the presence of the couple on the road should have been noticeable to Kelly, guiding him to alter his course.
The magistrate remarked that every motorist is prone to lack of focus, and in such circumstances, the judiciary should assess whether there were any aggravating aspects or deliberate misconduct that put other road users at risk. He stated that there was no excessive speed involvement, no consumption of intoxicating substances, no significant recklessness, only negligence. He described the defendant as a victim of human error on the night in question, as he failed to observe the couple crossing the road when he should have.
The magistrate highlighted the mitigating factors in this case including Kelly’s admission of guilt, his cooperation, clean past record, and the lack of any aggravating circumstances in the case. He felt that, at this juncture, it would be unjust to incarcerate him for the offence of careless driving resulting in death. He decided on a one year sentence, fully suspended, and banned Kelly from driving for the same period.
The magistrate mentioned that he would consider the drug issue separately and reveal his decision on the next hearing. It was brought to the court’s attention that the car was confiscated and drugs worth just over €3,088 were discovered in a magnetic box affixed to the engine block.
Kelly’s defence attorney, David Fleming, submitted a letter of apology on his client’s behalf expressing deep and sincere regret for the tragic incident. He acknowledged that his client ruminates daily about what he could have altered on the fateful day. Fleming argued that although the drugs discovered in the car complicated the matter, the offences were distinct. Kelly regrets his involvement with narcotics but did not predict it would result in this predicament, he added.
For the latest political analysis and discussion, tune into our Inside Politics Podcast. Keep abreast with the latest news, insights, and comments delivered straight to your phone by signing up for push notifications. For further updates, find The Irish Times on WhatsApp.