Ireland Case No. 5522Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Galway · 10 Apr 2023
Boy sentenced for dangerous driving causing death in Headford
Two 14-year-old teenagers, Kirsty Bohan and Lukas Joyce, died after a Volkswagen Passat driven by a boy then aged 13 crashed into a tree at Glennagarraun, near Headford, Co Galway, in the early hours of Easter Monday, 10 April 2023. A teenage girl was also seriously injured in the single-vehicle collision. The boy, now 15, was charged in October 2023 with five offences including dangerous driving causing death and appeared at Ballinasloe District Court, where he was granted bail. In July 2024 he pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Court, where Judge Brian O'Callaghan bound him to the peace under section 98 of the Children's Act rather than making a detention order.
- Reported11 Apr
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged5 Oct
- In court5 Oct
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced5 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two 14-year-olds, Kirsty Bohan and Lukas Joyce, died after a Volkswagen Passat crashed into a tree at Glennagarraun, near Headford, Co Galway.
- A boy, then aged 13 (one report states 15), was the suspected driver; a teenage girl was seriously injured and transferred to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
- Where
- The crash occurred at Glennagarraun (also reported as Pollacullaire), outside Headford, Co Galway, on the L6127.
- When
- The crash happened at about 5.40am on Easter Monday, 10 April 2023.
- Investigation
- Gardaí closed the L6127 to examine the scene, appointed Family Liaison Officers, and asked for camera footage between 5.30am and 6am.
- A Garda investigation found the four friends had arranged via Snapchat to go out that night, and no alcohol or drugs were present in the driver.
- Charges
- The boy was charged with five offences: dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing serious harm, unauthorised taking of a vehicle, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence.
- In court
- He appeared at Ballinasloe District Court in October 2023, made no reply to the charges, was granted bail on a €100 bond, and was remanded to Tuam District Court.
- In July 2024 he pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Court to dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, driving without insurance, and using a vehicle without the owner's consent.
- Sentence
- Judge Brian O'Callaghan bound the boy to the peace under section 98 of the Children's Act, saying a detention order would not be appropriate.
- Other details
- All victims were Second Year students at Presentation College in Headford; the boy has no previous convictions and co-operated fully with gardaí.
51 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo teenagers died in a car crash near Headford. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe car is suspected to have been driven by a 13-year-old. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe car collided with a tree. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLukas Joyce, 14, was the front-seat passenger and was believed to have been killed instantly. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKirsty Bohan, 14, was seated in the back and was rushed to hospital where she was declared dead. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe other teen girl was transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with serious injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe suspected driver was rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA teenage boy appeared before Ballinasloe District Court in connection with a fatal car crash. (rte.ie)
- whatTwo 14-year-olds, Lucas Joyce and Kirsty Bohan, died from injuries sustained in the crash. (rte.ie)
- whatA 13-year-old boy appeared before Ballinasloe District Court charged with dangerous driving causing death. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe crash killed two 14-year-olds, Lucas Joyce and Kirsty Bohan. (irishtimes.com)
- 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 Pollacullaire, outside Headford, Co Galway. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Glennagarraun, outside Headford, Co Galway. (rte.ie)
- whereThe crash happened at Glennagarraun, near Headford, Co Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe crash occurred at Glennagarraun, Headford. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe crash happened before 6am on Bank Holiday Monday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe crash happened in the early hours of 10 April 2023. (rte.ie)
- whenThe crash happened in the early hours of April 10th. (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)
- investigationGardaí closed off the L6127 at Glennagarraun, Ballyfruit in Headford to examine the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFamily Liaison Officers will be appointed. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationRoad users with camera footage between 5.30am and 6am are asked to make it available to gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationHe was arrested earlier in the day by Garda Donal Hallinan of Tuam Garda station. (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 faces a total of five charges. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe boy has been charged with dangerous driving causing death. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe teenager faces five charges as a result of the crash. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe is charged with dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing serious harm, the unauthorised taking of a vehicle, and driving without insurance and a driving licence. (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)
- courtThe State consented to bail on a bond of €100, subject to conditions. (rte.ie)
- courtThe boy was remanded on bail to a sitting of Tuam District Court later that month. (rte.ie)
- courtHe made no reply when each of the five charges was put to him. (irishtimes.com)
- courtInspector Adrian Queeney applied for the case to be adjourned to Tuam District Court later in the month. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was granted bail on condition that he be of good behaviour and reside at his home address. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Vincent Deane granted the disclosure order. (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)
- otherAll victims were pals and Second Year students at Presentation College in Headford. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe surrendered his passport. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHis solicitor said he is a full-time student and asked for a disclosure order. (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 - 5 Oct2023Boy (13) charged with dangerous driving following fatal crash in which two 14-year-olds died
First report of this case. Adds the five charges, the arrest, the bail conditions, the adjournment to Tuam District Court and the disclosure order.
suspect, 13, malevictim, Lucas Joyce, 14, irish (judged from name)Lucas Joycevictim, Kirsty Bohan, 14, irish (judged from name)Kirsty Bohan - 5 Oct2023Teenage boy charged over fatal car crash in Co Galway
The RTÉ article of 5 October 2023 reports the boy's first court appearance: he was charged with five offences, granted bail on a €100 bond and remanded to Tuam District Court for a Section 75 hearing. It gives the victims' ages as 14 and does not state the boy's age.
accused, malevictim, Lucas Joyce, 14, irish (judged from name)Lucas Joycevictim, Kirsty Bohan, 14, irish (judged from name)Kirsty Bohan - 11 Apr2023'Treasured' teens killed in Galway crash named as tributes flood in
Names the two victims as Kirsty Bohan and Lukas Joyce, both 14, confirms the suspected driver was 13, reports that a fourth occupant was transferred to Beaumont Hospital with serious injuries, and details the school's Critical Incident Plan and community tributes.
victim, Kirsty Bohan, 14, female, irish (judged from name)Kirsty Bohanvictim, Lukas Joyce, 14, male, irish (judged from name)Lukas Joycevictim, femalesuspect, 13