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. 10605Dangerous driving causing death; drink driving · Co. Limerick · 18 Mar 2022

Limerick man found guilty of dangerous driving causing death

On 18 March 2022, at about 2.50am, a car driven by Niall O'Halloran, a 57-year-old man from Newcastle West, County Limerick, collided with a truck at Reens East, Ardagh, County Limerick, and the truck driver, Arturs Birznieks, a Latvian man, died at the scene. O'Halloran was charged with dangerous driving causing death and driving while intoxicated, and pleaded not guilty to both. His trial began at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in February 2026, and on 5 March 2026 a jury found him guilty on both charges. He was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison, and his sentence date is to be finalised in April 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted6 Mar
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Niall O'Halloran was found guilty by a jury of dangerous driving causing the death of Arturs Birznieks and of driving while intoxicated.
  • Arturs Birznieks, a Latvian man and father of two, was the truck driver; the lorry jack-knifed, struck a wall and he died at the scene.
Where
The collision happened at Reens East, Ardagh, County Limerick, on the N69 in one report and on the N21 in another.
When
The collision happened at 2.50am on 18 March 2022.
Cause
O'Halloran's car went into the path of the truck, and the prosecution said he was intoxicated and incapable of properly controlling his vehicle.
Investigation
A blood sample taken in hospital about four hours after the collision showed 179mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, and the trial heard he was probably six times over the legal limit.
Other details
  • O'Halloran told gardaí in interview that the truck had veered into his path before the collision.
  • Gardaí told the court that Birznieks had no chance of survival.
  • O'Halloran had a 2011 drink-driving conviction at Rathkeale District Court, with a three-year road ban and a €400 fine, which the jury was not told.
In court
  • O'Halloran pleaded not guilty to both charges, and his trial began at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on Monday 23 February 2026, though one report says Tuesday.
  • The jury returned unanimous verdicts after just over an hour of deliberation on 5 March 2026.
  • The judge told O'Halloran that his driving and drinking killed a man.
  • After the guilty verdicts, O'Halloran was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison.
Sentence
The sentence date is to be finalised in April 2026.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNiall O'Halloran was found guilty by a jury of dangerous driving causing the death of Arturs Birznieks. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatThe truck driver, Arturs Birznieks, died at the scene. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe lorry jack-knifed on the road and struck a wall. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe collision happened at N69, Reens East, Ardagh, County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe collision happened on the N21 at Reens East, Ardagh, County Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe collision happened at 2.50am on March 18, 2022. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe collision happened on 18 March 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeO'Halloran drove his car into the path of a truck, killing the other driver. (limerickpost.ie)
  • causeThe court heard O’Halloran was steaming drunk when he drove his car into the path of a truck. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeThe prosecution said O’Halloran was intoxicated and incapable of properly controlling his vehicle. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationA blood sample taken from O'Halloran in hospital four hours after the collision showed 179mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationA blood sample taken four hours after the collision showed 179mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe jury also found O'Halloran guilty of driving while intoxicated. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeO’Halloran had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Arturs Birznieks and driving while intoxicated. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtO'Halloran was remanded into custody after the guilty verdicts. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtA jury found Niall O’Halloran guilty of dangerous driving causing death. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe trial began at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on Monday 23 February. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe jury returned unanimous verdicts after just over an hour of deliberation on 5 March. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge told O’Halloran that his driving and drinking killed a man. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtAfter the guilty verdicts, O’Halloran was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceO'Halloran's sentence date will be finalised in April. (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence date will be finalised in April. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherGardaí told the court that Birznieks had no chance of survival. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherO'Halloran claimed in Garda interviews that the truck veered into his path before the collision. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherO'Halloran had a previous conviction for drink driving at Rathkeale District Court in 2011, which the jury was not told. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherO’Halloran was probably six times over the legal limit at the time of the collision. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherO’Halloran had a previous conviction for drink driving from 2011. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherO’Halloran told gardaí that Birznieks’ truck had veered into his path before the collision. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Mar2026
    Convictedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    ‘Your driving and your drinking killed a man’: Judge tells Limerick man found guilty by jury

    Reports the jury verdict of guilty on both charges, the judge's comments, the remand in custody, and that sentencing is expected in April. Adds the blood alcohol result and a previous drink-driving conviction from 2011.

    convicted, Niall O'Halloran, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall O'Halloranvictim, Arturs Birznieks, male, Latvian, non-irishArturs Birznieks
  2. 6 Mar2026
    Convictedlimerickpost.ie, follow-up
    ‘Steaming drunk’ driver found guilty of dangerous and drunken driving causing death of truck driver

    Reports the jury verdicts at the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court trial, the remand in custody, a previous drink-driving conviction that could not be given to the jury, and that sentence will be finalised in April.

    convicted, Niall O'Halloran, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall O'Halloranvictim, Arturs Birznieks, male, non-irish (judged from name)Arturs Birznieks