Ireland Case No. 18317Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Longford · 18 Dec 2021
Longford man jailed over fatal drink-driving crash
In the early hours of 18 December 2021 on the Cullyfad road at Coolnahinch, County Longford, a Porsche 911 driven by Joseph Farrell (26) crashed, killing Brian McGinnity, a young pilot. Gardaí were alerted by a witness at 12.54am, and Farrell was charged with dangerous driving causing death. Farrell pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. In February 2024, Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court sentenced him to 28 months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, and disqualified him from driving for seven years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Joseph Farrell was charged with dangerous driving causing death.
- The crash caused the death of Brian McGinnity, a young pilot.
- Farrell and Mr McGinnity had been socialising in Longford town before the crash.
- Mr McGinnity's Porsche 911 was being driven by Farrell at the time of the crash.
- Where
- The crash happened on the Cullyfad road at Coolnahinch, County Longford.
- When
- The crash happened in the early hours of 18 December 2021.
- Cause
- Farrell lost control of the car, veered onto the wrong side of the road and rotated, and the car then hit trees and flipped onto its roof.
- Farrell was more than three times over the alcohol limit on the night he drove.
- Investigation
- A witness reported the collision to gardaí at 12.54am.
- In court
- Farrell pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
- Farrell was sentenced at Longford Circuit Court before Judge Kenneth Connolly, and the case was reported on 12 February 2024.
- Sentence
- Farrell was sentenced to 28 months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years.
- Farrell was disqualified from driving for seven years from the date of sentencing.
- Other details
- Farrell was described in the reporting as a secondary school teacher.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJoseph Farrell was charged with dangerous driving causing death. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe crash resulted in the death of Brian McGinnity, a young pilot. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe pair had been socialising in Longford town before the crash. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatMr McGinnity's Porsche 911 was driven by Farrell. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe crash happened on the Cullyfad road at Coolnahinch. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe crash happened in the early hours of 18 December 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeFarrell lost control of the car, veered onto the wrong side of the road and rotated, then the car hit trees and flipped onto its roof. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeFarrell was more than three times over the alcohol limit on the night he drove. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationA witness reported the collision to gardaí at 12.54am. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtFarrell pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceFarrell was sentenced to 28 months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceFarrell was disqualified from driving for seven years from the date of sentencing. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Feb2024Longford man jailed for drink driving crash in which his pilot friend died
Reports the sentencing of Joseph Farrell, who pleaded guilty, and the court's description of the crash, the victim's family's statements and the sentence.
convicted, Joseph Farrell, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Farrellvictim, Brian McGinnity, male, irish (judged from name)Brian McGinnity