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. 6479Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Laois · 7 Oct 2022

Learner driver jailed over fatal Rock of Dunamase collision, Co Laois

On October 7, 2022, a car driven by Jamie Kearns, 20, of Portlaoise, Co Laois, knocked American tourists Laura Jones, 59, and her husband Doug Jones over a wall near the Rock of Dunamase, Co Laois, and Ms Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Kearns, an unaccompanied learner driver, pleaded guilty at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Jones and to dangerous driving causing serious harm to Mr Jones. On February 23, 2024, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Kearns, and the sources differ on the term, with one reporting 15 months in jail and another a prison sentence of two years and three months with the final 12 months suspended. The judge also disqualified him from driving for 15 years and urged Laois County Council to reduce the speed limit on the road to 30km/h.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Kearns's car knocked Laura Jones and Doug Jones over a wall before crashing into the wall.
  • Ms Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
Where
The collision happened near the Rock of Dunamase, Co Laois.
When
The fatal collision happened on October 7, 2022.
Cause
  • The judge said Kearns was driving at an excessive speed.
  • Kearns ignored several requests from three passengers to slow down.
Investigation
Kearns did not accept that he had been driving at excessive speed when interviewed by gardaí.
Charges
Kearns pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Jones and also to dangerous driving causing serious harm to Mr Jones.
In court
  • The guilty pleas were entered at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court, and Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Kearns on February 23, 2024.
  • Judge Johnson urged Laois County Council to reduce the speed limit on the road from 80km/h to 30km/h.
Sentence
  • Sources differ on the term: one reports 15 months in jail, and another reports a prison sentence of two years and three months with the final 12 months suspended.
  • Kearns was disqualified from driving for 15 years and must keep the peace for three years after release.
Other details
  • Kearns was a learner driver not accompanied by a fully qualified driver and had bought the car two weeks before the collision.
  • Mr Jones sustained serious leg injuries and needed surgery, and Kearns entered an early guilty plea.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKearns's car knocked the victim and her husband over a wall before crashing into the wall. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMs Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe guilty pleas were entered at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe collision happened near the Rock of Dunamase. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe fatal collision happened on October 7, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe judge said Kearns was driving at an excessive speed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeKearns ignored several requests from three passengers to slow down. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationKearns did not accept that he had been driving at excessive speed when interviewed by gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeKearns pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Jones. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeKearns also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm to the victim’s husband. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge urged Laois County Council to reduce the speed limit on the road to 30km/h. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceKearns was sentenced to 15 months in jail. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a prison sentence of two years and three months. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe final 12 months of the prison sentence were suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceKearns was disqualified from driving for 15 years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceKearns must keep the peace for three years after release. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDoug Jones sustained serious leg injuries and needed surgery. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKearns was a learner driver who was not accompanied by a fully qualified driver. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKearns had bought the car two weeks before the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKearns entered an early guilty plea. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Feb2024
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Unaccompanied L driver jailed for causing fatal collision that killed US tourist

    First report of this case in the list. It covers the sentencing of Jamie Kearns. The article gives two sentence figures: 15 months in jail, and a prison sentence of two years and three months with the final 12 months suspended.

    convicted, Jamie Kearns, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jamie Kearnsvictim, Laura Jones, 59, female, American, non-irishLaura Jonesvictim, Doug Jones, male, American, non-irishDoug Jones