Ireland Driver jailed for leaving crash scene where girlfriend died, Co Mayo
Tracey Moran (25) of Milltown, Glenamoy, died after a crash on March 17, 2022, at Knocknalower, Barnatra, Co Mayo, in the car driven by her girlfriend Liam Ginty (28) of Inver, Barnatra, Belmullet. The couple had been socialising in Belmullet and got into Ginty's Volkswagen Jetta after failing to get a taxi home. The car crashed into a pillar, Moran was found in the passenger footwell, and the driver was missing; Ginty was later found at home by his mother, who took him to Belmullet Garda station, where he admitted driving and said he had panicked. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene, and on July 20, 2023, at the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar, he was sentenced to a total of 16 months in prison, with the final 20 months of a three-year term suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Tracey Moran (25) and Liam Ginty (28) had been socialising in Belmullet and got into Ginty's car after failing to get a taxi home.
- The Volkswagen Jetta driven by Ginty crashed into a pillar.
- Moran was found slumped in the passenger footwell, and there was no sign of the driver.
- Where
- The crash happened at Knocknalower, Barnatra, Co Mayo.
- When
- The crash happened on March 17, 2022.
- Investigation
- The local Coastguard unit and a rescue helicopter were tasked to search for the missing driver.
- Ginty was found at home by his mother, who took him to Belmullet Garda station.
- In interview, Ginty admitted he had been driving and said he had panicked.
- Charges
- Ginty pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Tracey Moran.
- Ginty also pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of the impact.
- In court
- Ginty was sentenced at the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
- Sentence
- Ginty was sentenced to a total of 16 months in prison, being a three-year term with the final 20 months suspended.
- Other details
- The defence said Ginty went to hospital on the night of the crash to meet Ms Moran's family.
- The judge said the life of the Moran family had been permanently marred.
- Moran's parents said they would always struggle with the fact that Ginty left her to die and did not call for help.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe couple had been socialising in Belmullet and got into Ginty's car after failing to get a taxi home. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Volkswagen Jetta crashed into a pillar. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTracey Moran was found slumped in the passenger footwell with no sign of the driver. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe sentence was imposed at the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar, Co Mayo. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe crash happened at Knocknalower, Barnatra. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe crash happened on March 17, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe local Coastguard unit and a rescue helicopter were tasked to search for the missing driver. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGinty was found at home by his mother, who took him to Belmullet Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIn interview, Ginty admitted he had been driving and said he had panicked. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGinty pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Tracey Moran. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGinty also pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of the impact. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceGinty was sentenced to a total of 16 months in prison. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge sentenced Ginty to three years in prison with the final 20 months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence said Ginty went to hospital on the night of the crash to meet Ms Moran's family. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said the life of the Moran family had been permanently marred. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMoran's parents said they would always struggle with the fact that Ginty left her to die and did not call for help. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Jul2023Driver who fled crashed car in which girlfriend dying and did not seek help is jailed
Reports the sentencing of the driver after an earlier guilty plea, with victim impact statements and defence plea for leniency. No existing case matches this incident.
convicted, Liam Ginty, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Gintyvictim, Tracey Moran, 25, female, irish (judged from name)Tracey Moran