Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4661Dangerous driving causing death; drive-by shooting · Co. Limerick · 13 Oct 2023

Court of Appeal increases sentence for Kieran Fogarty over death of Joe Drennan in Limerick

Joe Drennan, a 21-year-old student, died in a hit-and-run on the Dublin Road in Limerick on 13 October 2023. The driver, Kieran Fogarty, a 21-year-old man, had filmed himself speeding moments earlier. Fogarty pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges, and in January he was sentenced at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to 6½ years, with eight years for a June drive-by shooting to run concurrently. After a DPP undue leniency appeal, the Court of Appeal resentenced him in a ruling reported on 6 November 2025 to a total of 14 years, with the final year suspended, an increase of five years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced6 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Joe Drennan, a 21-year-old man and student, died after a hit-and-run collision.
Where
The death occurred on the Dublin Road in Limerick.
When
Joe Drennan was killed on October 13th, 2023.
Cause
The driver, Kieran Fogarty, had filmed himself speeding moments before the crash.
Investigation
  • CCTV footage showed Fogarty's car travelling at 122km/h in a 50km/h zone before the crash.
  • The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentences as unduly lenient.
Other details
  • After the collision, Fogarty spent 14 seconds wiping down the car before fleeing the scene.
  • Ms Justice Tara Burns said Drennan was an exceptional young man whose death had a devastating effect on his parents and siblings.
Charges
Fogarty pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges over Drennan's death.
In court
  • In January, Fogarty was sentenced to 6½ years at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for the dangerous driving charges.
  • The only mitigating factors cited were Fogarty's early guilty plea and his young age.
Sentence
  • Fogarty also received an eight-year sentence for a drive-by shooting in June of the same year, to run concurrently.
  • The Irish Times reports the original eight-year sentence covered this and other offences, while the key facts describe it as a separate sentence for the shooting.
  • The Court of Appeal resentenced Fogarty to a total of 14 years in prison with the final year suspended, an increase of five years.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe death occurred on the Dublin Road in Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenJoe Drennan was killed on October 13th, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe fatal incident was a hit-and-run in which the driver had filmed himself speeding moments earlier. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCCTV footage showed Fogarty's car travelling at 122km/h in a 50km/h zone before it crashed. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIn January, Fogarty was sentenced to 6½ years at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving charges over Drennan's death. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceFogarty also received an eight-year sentence for a drive-by shooting in June of the same year, to run concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe Court of Appeal ruled the original eight-year sentence for this and other offences was unduly lenient. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceFogarty was resentenced to a total of 14 years in prison with the final year suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe only mitigating factors were Fogarty's early guilty plea and his young age. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAfter the collision, Fogarty spent 14 seconds wiping down the car before fleeing the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentences as unduly lenient. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherJoe Drennan's death had a devastating effect on his parents and siblings. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Nov2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Sentence for gangland figure who killed student Joe Drennan increased by five years

    Reports the Court of Appeal's resentencing of Fogarty, which increased the total sentence by five years following a DPP undue leniency appeal, and gives the court's reasoning and the CCTV evidence.

    convicted, Kieran Fogarty, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kieran Fogartyvictim, Joe Drennan, 21, male, irish (judged from name)Joe Drennan