Ireland Case No. 22406Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Galway · 1 Mar 2020
Drunk driver Michael Welby's jail term increased on appeal for killing Róisín Hession in Galway
Michael Welby, 24, had his sentence for dangerous driving causing the death of 16-year-old Róisín Hession in Porridgetown, Co Galway, in March 2020 increased by the Court of Appeal, which quashed the original five-year headline sentence and imposed a six-year headline sentence with two years discounted, leaving two-and-a-half years to serve.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced13 Feb
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports35 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMichael Welby, 24, of Loughgannon, Roscahill, was the driver. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRóisín Hession was a 16-year-old girl who died in the crash. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWelby had been drinking and speeding on the night. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe car had defective tyres. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí attempted to stop the speeding vehicle before the crash. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWelby had been drinking at two pubs in the village that night. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHession left the house to go home but got a lift from Welby. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWelby sped away and turned onto a country road. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe car flipped and collided with a bank of trees and then a wall 40 metres away. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGarda Naughton performed CPR on Hession until paramedics arrived. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHession died at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWelby tested at 125mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Passat had a tinted window sticker allowing 18% transparency when the legal limit was 60%. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWelby told gardaí he saw the blue lights but did not know they belonged to a Garda car. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWelby was driving at twice the legal limit. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWelby was drinking and speeding while driving a car with defective tyres. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWelby's blood alcohol level was 125mg per 100ml of blood. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe car had a tinted window sticker allowing 18 per cent transparency when the legal limit was 60 per cent. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWelby was driving at twice the legal speed limit. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe blood sample was taken over two hours after the crash. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWelby sped away and turned onto a country road where the car flipped and hit a bank of trees and then a wall 40 metres away. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGda Naughton performed CPR on Hession until paramedics arrived but she died at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA red weather warning had been issued the day before the crash. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHession's mother had died when she was eight years old. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe crash occurred in the townland of Porridgetown, Co Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe crash occurred at a local road in Porridgetown, Oughterard, Co Galway. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred shortly after 1am on 1 March 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe fatal crash occurred shortly after 1am on 1 March 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeWelby pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeWelby pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Róisín Hession. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtWelby was originally sentenced at Galway Circuit Court in July 2022. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe State successfully appealed the sentence at the Court of Appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal quashed the five-year headline sentence as an error in principle. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe original sentence was three years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended for two years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal re-sentenced Welby to a six-year headline sentence with two years discounted, 18 months suspended, leaving two-and-a-half years to serve with a four-year driving ban. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Feb2023Drunk driver who killed teen in horror Galway crash has jail time increased
The Court of Appeal quashed the original five-year headline sentence as an error in principle and re-sentenced Welby to a six-year headline sentence with two years discounted for guilty plea and remorse, leaving two-and-a-half years to serve with a four-year driving ban.
victim, Róisín Hession, 16, female, irish (judged from name)Róisín Hessionconvicted, Michael Welby, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Welby - 13 Feb202318-month sentence for drunk driver who killed Galway girl (16) increased by a year on appeal
Court of Appeal appeal by the State; original sentence quashed as unduly lenient and resentenced to a higher headline term.
victim, Róisín Hession, 16, female, irish (judged from name)Róisín Hessionconvicted, Michael Welby, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Welbyvictim, male, irish (judged from name)