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. 2364Careless driving causing death · Co. Donegal · 10 Mar 2018

Daniel McCafferty jailed for 18 months for careless driving killing Emmett McClelland in Donegal

Daniel McCafferty, 39, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment and a six-year driving ban at Letterkenny Circuit Court after pleading guilty to careless driving causing the death of Emmett McClelland, 28, who was struck by his car at Bonamine, Bridgend, Co Donegal, in March 2018 while walking home after his son's christening. McCafferty had 100mg of cocaine in his system, twice the legal limit, at the time of the collision.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Feb
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced11 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
38 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatEmmett McClelland was a father of two (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcClelland had been socialising at Harry's Bar in Bridgend after his son's christening (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcClelland's six-week-old son had been named after him (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcClelland was struck by a Vauxhall Omega driven by his friend Daniel McCafferty (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcCafferty had driven from Derry to get diesel for his car (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcCafferty was over twice the legal limit for cocaine in his system (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcClelland and his brother were walking home to Derry after the celebrations (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcClelland was being pulled back by his brother when he was struck (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThere was no evidence of excessive speed (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcClelland was wearing a dark shirt and no hi-viz jacket (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA street-light in the area was not working (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA blood test showed McCafferty was over twice the legal limit for cocaine (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcCafferty had 100mg of cocaine in his system, twice the legal limit (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcClelland was 28 years old and a father of two (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcCafferty had driven across the border from Derry to get diesel for his car (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe vehicle involved was a Vauxhall Omega (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThere was no evidence of excessive speed at the time of the collision (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcClelland was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry where he died (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcCafferty has three previous convictions in Northern Ireland for driving while intoxicated (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcCafferty was convicted of drug-driving in June 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcCafferty suffers from PTSD following the incident and the death of his own infant son (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcClelland was not wearing high-vis clothing at night and a lamp above him was not functioning properly (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at Bonamine, Bridgend, Co Donegal (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe accident occurred 450 yards from the border (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe accident occurred on a straight stretch of road with a 100kph speed limit (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe driver was taken to Buncrana Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereMcClelland was from Shantallow in Derry (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe collision occurred at Bonamine, Bridgend, Co Donegal (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe accident occurred on a straight stretch of road with a 100kph speed limit, 450 yards from the border (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred just before midnight on 10 March 2018 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDetective Garda Jason Conroy outlined the events of the night (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMcCafferty pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMcCafferty pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of Emmett McClelland (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMcCafferty appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Letterkenny Circuit Court before Judge John Aylmer (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMcCafferty's barrister was Mr Colm Smyth, SC, of McGowan Park in Derry (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceDaniel McCafferty was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMcCafferty was banned from driving for six years (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Feb2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man on cocaine who knocked down and killed friend after christening jailed

    Sentencing details including aggravating factors (cocaine impairment, death of victim), mitigating factors (guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, PTSD), victim impact statements from partner Jade and mother Catherine McClelland, and psychiatric assessment of the accused.

    victim, Emmett McClelland, 28, male, irish (judged from name)Emmett McClellandconvicted, Daniel McCafferty, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel McCafferty
  2. 6 Feb2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Father killed by car driven by friend while walking home from son's christening

    Details of the plea hearing at Letterkenny Circuit Court, including victim impact statements from McClelland's partner and mother, the driver's cocaine level, his previous convictions in both jurisdictions, his psychiatric issues, and the adjournment for sentencing.

    victim, Emmett McClelland, 19, male, non-irish (judged from name)Emmett McClellandaccused, Daniel McCafferty, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Daniel McCafferty