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. 0878Negligence, personal injuries · Co. Kildare · 7 Dec 2019

Family of man killed on M9 after bus ejection settles High Court action

Stephen O'Driscoll, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene on the M9 near Kilcullen, Co Kildare, on December 7, 2019, after being expelled from a Dublin-Waterford bus while highly intoxicated and struck by a passing vehicle on the motorway. An inquest returned a verdict of accidental death, with a Garda forensic collision investigator testifying that the driver had no reasonable opportunity to avoid the collision given poor visibility on an unlit section. The family of O'Driscoll, who was from Carlow, brought a High Court negligence action against bus company JJ Kavanagh and Sons of Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, which denied all claims. The case was settled for €20,000 in June 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Jun
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Stephen O'Driscoll, 24, was struck and killed by a passing vehicle on the M9 after being expelled from a Dublin-Waterford bus while highly intoxicated.
Where
The incident occurred on the M9 near the junction at Kilcullen, Co Kildare.
When
The incident occurred on December 7, 2019, at around 11pm on a dark rainy night.
Cause
A Garda forensic collision investigator said the driver had no reasonable opportunity to avoid the collision given visibility of dipped lights on an unlit section in poor weather.
Investigation
A postmortem showed drugs in O'Driscoll's system in addition to alcohol.
In court
  • An inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.
  • The family brought a High Court negligence action against bus company JJ Kavanagh and Sons of Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, which denied all claims.
  • The family settled the High Court action for €20,000 in June 2026.
Other details
  • O'Driscoll was from The Laurels, Tullow Road, Carlow, and was the father of one.
  • O'Driscoll had assaulted his sister and the bus driver before being expelled from the bus.
4 statements extracted from the articles
  • causeA Garda forensic collision investigator said a driver had no reasonable opportunity to avoid hitting the pedestrian given visibility of dipped lights on an unlit section in poor weather (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe family settled for €20,000 against bus company JJ Kavanagh and Sons with offices at Urlingford, Co Kilkenny (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAll claims were denied by the bus company (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA verdict of accidental death was returned in the inquest (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Family of man killed by car on motorway after being ejected from bus settles High Court action

    Reports the €20,000 settlement of the High Court action and details the inquest findings, including the accidental death verdict and the Garda forensic collision investigator's testimony.

    victim, 24, male, irish (judged from name)victim, female, irish (judged from name)