Thursday 29 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. 7781Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Meath · 27 May 2016

Court of Appeal rejects challenge by driver jailed over fatal Duleek crash

On May 27, 2016, Jillian Thornton, a 20-year-old woman, died in a crash at Waterside Great, Duleek, Co Meath, after being thrown from the car driven by Michael Collins, a 49-year-old man who was high on cannabis and had led gardaí on a 35-minute chase. After a 13-day trial, Collins was convicted of dangerous driving causing death and other offences, and in July 2019 he was jailed for 14 years at Trim Circuit Court. He had defended himself at trial after dismissing his legal team. The latest development is that the Court of Appeal, in a ruling reported on July 25, 2023, dismissed his appeal, which argued he should not have been allowed to represent himself.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court25 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Michael Collins, a 49-year-old man, was driving while high on cannabis when he led gardaí on a 35-minute chase.
  • Jillian Thornton, a 20-year-old woman and Collins's passenger, was thrown from the car and died.
When
The crash happened on May 27, 2016.
Where
The crash happened at Waterside Great, Duleek, Co Meath.
Cause
The car collided with another car near Ballymagarvey on the N2 after a garda pursuit, and the collision split the vehicle in two.
Other details
Collins was driving to a music festival in Mullingar with Thornton and another friend.
Charges
  • After a 13-day trial, Collins was convicted of dangerous driving causing death.
  • Collins was also convicted of two endangerment charges, 12 dangerous driving charges and driving under the influence of cannabis.
In court
  • Collins dismissed his legal team and defended himself at trial, and the trial judge had encouraged him to retain legal representation.
  • Collins was found fit to plead.
  • The Court of Appeal dismissed Collins's appeal, which argued he should not have been allowed to represent himself, and said the right to represent oneself at trial is a constitutional right in Irish law.
Sentence
In July 2019 Collins was jailed for 14 years at Trim Circuit Court.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe driver was high on cannabis when he led gardaí on a 35-minute chase. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe driver's 20-year-old passenger died after being thrown from his car. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe crash happened at Waterside Great, Duleek, Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe fatal crash happened on May 27, 2016. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe car collided with another car near Ballymagarvey on the N2 after a garda pursuit. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCollins was convicted of dangerous driving causing death after a 13-day trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCollins was also convicted of two endangerment charges, 12 dangerous driving charges and driving under the influence of cannabis. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCollins defended himself after dismissing his legal team at the start of the trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCollins was on his way to a music festival in Mullingar with the victim and another friend. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Collins's appeal, which argued he should not have been allowed to represent himself at trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal said the right to represent oneself at trial is a constitutional right in Irish law. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial judge had encouraged Collins to retain legal representation and he was found fit to plead. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCollins was jailed for 14 years at Trim Circuit Court in July 2019. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Jul2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Driver jailed for 14 years for causing passenger’s death claims he should not have been allowed represent himself

    Reports the Court of Appeal's dismissal of Collins's appeal, which argued he should not have been allowed to represent himself at trial. Adds the sentence, the conviction details, the crash location and the victim's death.

    victim, Jillian Thornton, 20, female, irish (judged from name)Jillian Thorntonconvicted, Michael Collins, 49, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Collins