Sunday 1 November 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 sentenced for dangerous driving causing death in Co Laois

On 7 October 2022, an unaccompanied learner driver's car struck Laura Jones, 59, an American woman from Parker, Colorado, and her husband Doug Jones at the Rock of Dunamase, Co Laois, throwing them over a wall; Ms Jones died at the scene and Mr Jones sustained serious leg injuries. Jamie Kearns, 20, of Portlaoise, Co Laois, who had only had the car for two weeks, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. He was sentenced at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court on 23 February 2024 to two years and three months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for three years, and was disqualified from driving for 15 years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court22 Feb
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Feb
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
An unaccompanied learner driver's car struck Laura Jones and her husband Doug Jones at the Rock of Dunamase, throwing them over a wall, and a large rock dislodged from the wall fell on Ms Jones.
Where
The collision occurred at the Rock of Dunamase in Co Laois.
When
The fatal collision happened on 7 October 2022.
Cause
The judge found the collision was caused by driver errors and excessive speed, and that Kearns ignored several requests from three passengers to slow down.
Charges
Kearns pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Laura Jones and dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Doug Jones.
In court
  • Kearns was sentenced at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court on 23 February 2024.
  • The judge recommended that Laois County Council reduce the speed limit from 80km/h to 30km/h on the approach road to the Rock of Dunamase.
Sentence
  • Kearns was sentenced to two years and three months in prison with the final 12 months suspended for three years; one report stated 15 months in jail.
  • Kearns was disqualified from driving for 15 years and ordered to keep the peace for three years after release.
Other details
  • Laura Jones, 59, an American woman from Parker, Colorado, was pronounced dead at the scene.
  • Doug Jones sustained serious leg injuries and needed surgery and metal work on his left leg.
  • Kearns was an unaccompanied learner driver who had bought the car two weeks before the collision and had no previous convictions.
36 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA learner driver admitted dangerous driving that killed a tourist. (extra.ie)
  • 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)
  • whatThe approaching car struck Mr and Mrs Jones and threw them over a wall. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA large rock was dislodged from the wall and fell on Mrs Jones. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe guilty pleas were entered at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe collision happened near the Rock of Dunamase. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe collision happened at the Rock of Dunamase in Co Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe fatal collision happened on October 7, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe crash that killed Laura Jones happened on October 7, 2022. (leinsterexpress.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)
  • causeThe judge said the collision occurred due to driver errors and speed. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationKearns did not accept that he had been driving at excessive speed when interviewed by gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe driver admitted dangerous driving. (extra.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)
  • chargeKearns pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge urged Laois County Council to reduce the speed limit on the road to 30km/h. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtKearns was sentenced at Portlaoise Circuit Court. (leinsterexpress.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)
  • sentenceKearns was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, with the final year suspended for three years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceKearns was banned from driving for 15 years. (leinsterexpress.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)
  • otherMr Jones needed surgery and metal work on his left leg. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherKearns was an unaccompanied learner driver. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherKearns had only had the car for two weeks. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe court heard Kearns had no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge recommended that the local authority reduce the speed limit from 80km/h to 30km/h on the approach road to the Rock of Dunamase. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Feb2024
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Laois man jailed over crash that caused the death of a US tourist

    Adds the sentencing details: a two-year-and-three-month prison term with the final year suspended, a 15-year driving ban, the judge's comments on driver errors and speed, his recommendation to reduce the speed limit near the Rock of Dunamase, the defendant's age and address, and the injuries to Mr Jones.

    convicted, Jamie Kearns, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jamie Kearnsvictim, Laura Jones, femaleLaura Jonesvictim, Doug Jones, maleDoug Jones
  2. 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
  3. 22 Feb2024
    In courtextra.ie, first report
    Learner Driver Admits Dangerous Driving That Killed Tourist

    Only the headline carries case content. The body is unrendered page template code, so the date, location, court and the tourist's details are not given. The Republic of Ireland location is inferred from the Irish outlet and is not stated in the text.

    accusedvictim