Ireland 15-year-old boy sentenced over Headford crash that killed two teenagers
A 15-year-old boy's Volkswagen Passat crashed into a tree just after a bend on the L6127 at Glennagarraun, Headford, Co. Galway, in the early hours of Easter Monday, 10 April 2023, killing 14-year-olds Kirsty Bohan and Lukas Joyce. Lukas Joyce died at the scene and Kirsty Bohan was pronounced dead later at University Hospital Galway, while a 15-year-old girl who survived suffered extensive injuries. The boy pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death and to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, and admitted driving without insurance and using a vehicle without the owner's consent. At a sentencing hearing at Galway Circuit Court, reported on 5 July 2024, Judge Brian O'Callaghan said a detention order would not be appropriate and made a peace bond order under section 98 of the Children's Act.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced5 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death.
- Kirsty Bohan and Lukas Joyce, both aged 14, died after a single-vehicle collision.
- The Volkswagen Passat driven by the boy crashed into a tree just after a bend on the L6127.
- Where
- The crash happened at Glennagarraun, Headford, County Galway.
- When
- The crash happened in the early hours of Easter Monday, 10 April 2023, at about 5.40am.
- Other details
- Lukas Joyce died at the scene and Kirsty Bohan was pronounced dead later at University Hospital Galway.
- A now 15-year-old girl who survived the crash suffered extensive injuries.
- Charges
- The boy pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to the surviving girl.
- The boy admitted driving without insurance and using a vehicle without the owner's consent.
- Investigation
- No alcohol or drugs were present in the driver.
- A Garda investigation found the four friends had arranged via Snapchat to go out that night.
- The boy co-operated fully with gardaí and has no previous convictions.
- In court
- Judge Brian O'Callaghan sentenced the case at Galway Circuit Court.
- Sentence
- The judge said a detention order would not be appropriate and made a peace bond order under section 98 of the Children's Act.
17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo 14-year-olds, Kirsty Bohan and Lukas Joyce, died after a single-vehicle collision. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Volkswagen Passat driven by the boy crashed into a tree just after a bend on the L6127. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLukas Joyce died at the scene and Kirsty Bohan was pronounced dead later at University Hospital Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe crash occurred at Glennagarraun, Headford. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe crash happened in the early hours of Easter Monday, April 10th, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe crash occurred at about 5.40am. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationNo alcohol or drugs were present in the driver. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA Garda investigation found the four friends had arranged via Snapchat to go out that night. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe boy also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to a teenage girl. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe boy also admitted driving without insurance and using a vehicle without the owner's consent. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Brian O’Callaghan sentenced the case at Galway Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge said a detention order would not be appropriate. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge made an order binding the boy to the peace under section 98 of the Children's Act. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA now 15-year-old girl who survived the crash suffered extensive injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy co-operated fully with gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Jul2024Crash that killed two children ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’, court hears
Reports the sentencing hearing: the boy pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and related charges, and the judge made a peace bond order instead of detention.
convicted, 15, malevictim, Kirsty Bohan, 14, irish (judged from name)Kirsty Bohanvictim, Lukas Joyce, 14, irish (judged from name)Lukas Joycevictim, 15, female