Ireland Man sentenced for dangerous driving causing death in Louth
On 28 April 2018, Paul McCleave, a 30-year-old man with an address in West Belfast, was driving a Mercedes Sprinter van on the N2 at Aclint, Ardee, County Louth, when he pulled onto the wrong side of the road to overtake traffic approaching a bend, causing a head-on collision with the car of Tom Begley, a 64-year-old man from Reaghstown. Begley was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital and died the following day from serious head injuries. McCleave was charged with dangerous driving causing death and driving while cocaine was in his system. The case was listed at Dundalk Circuit Court in April 2021, where Judge Martina Baxter put it back to July, noting it would require priority. McCleave admitted both charges and was sentenced in January 2022 to five years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended, a concurrent six months for drug driving, and a 12-year driving disqualification.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court21 Apr
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Jan
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Paul McCleave, a 30-year-old man with an address in West Belfast, was driving a Mercedes Sprinter van when it collided head-on with the car of Tom Begley, a 64-year-old man from Reaghstown.
- Begley was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital and died the following day from serious head injuries.
- Where
- The crash occurred at Aclint, Ardee, County Louth, on the N2.
- When
- The crash occurred on 28 April 2018 at around 5:40pm.
- Cause
- McCleave pulled onto the wrong side of the road to overtake traffic approaching a bend.
- Charges
- McCleave was charged with dangerous driving causing death and driving while cocaine was in his system.
- In court
- The case was listed at Dundalk Circuit Court in April 2021, where Judge Martina Baxter put it back to July, noting it would require priority.
- Sentence
- Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced McCleave to five years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for dangerous driving causing death.
- A concurrent six-month jail term was imposed for the drug driving offence.
- McCleave was disqualified from driving for 12 years.
- Other details
- It had taken over three years for McCleave to plead guilty.
- A witness said McCleave was driving too close behind him with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the window.
29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPaul McCleave is a 29-year-old man (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatTom Begley was 64 years old (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatTom Begley died the following day in Beaumont Hospital (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatTom Begley had been airlifted to Beaumont Hospital (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatThe collision involved Tom Begley's car and a van allegedly driven by the accused (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatMcCleave was driving a Mercedes Sprinter van. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatThe victim was returning home to Reaghstown after getting his car washed in Carrickmacross. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatTom Begley was transferred by air ambulance to Beaumont hospital and died the following evening from serious head injuries. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA witness said McCleave was driving too close behind him with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the window. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA second witness said there was a constant stream of traffic from the other direction. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatAn off-duty garda witness said the van driver had pulled back in earlier after a car emerged at a junction. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- wherePaul McCleave has an address at Gort na Mona Court, West Belfast (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe crash occurred at Aclint, Ardee (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereTom Begley was from Reaghstown (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe crash occurred on 28 April 2018 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe fatal collision took place on 28 April 2018. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe head-on collision occurred around 5:40pm. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeMcCleave pulled onto the wrong side of the road to overtake traffic approaching a bend. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargePaul McCleave is accused of dangerous driving causing the death of Tom Begley (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeMcCleave admitted dangerous driving causing the death of Tom Begley. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeMcCleave admitted driving while cocaine was in his system. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe case was listed for mention and Judge Martina Baxter put it back to a date in July (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe judge said the trial would require priority (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dundalk Circuit Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceJudge Patrick Quinn imposed a five-year sentence with the final two years suspended for dangerous driving causing death. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceA concurrent six-month jail term was imposed for the drug driving offence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceMcCleave was disqualified from driving for 12 years. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherIt had taken over three years for the defendant to plead guilty. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe Senior Counsel said his client was filled with fear and anxiety at the prospect of prison to the point of being suicidal. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Jan2022Dundalk court: Jailed for killing man in crash
Sentencing details: five-year sentence (two years suspended) for dangerous driving causing death, concurrent six months for drug driving, 12-year driving disqualification. Court heard witness evidence, victim impact statement, and defence explanation for the delay in pleading guilty.
victim, Tom Begley, 64, male, irish (judged from name)Tom Begleyconvicted, Paul McCleave, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul McCleave - 21 Apr2021Trial into a fatal crash in Louth to be given priority
Confirms the trial is being prioritised in the Circuit Court list; Judge Martina Baxter put the matter back to a date in July. Adds McCleave's address (Gort na Mona Court, West Belfast), the specific location (Aclint, Ardee), and that Begley was from Reaghstown and died the following day in Beaumont Hospital after being airlifted.
victim, Tom Begley, 64, male, irish (judged from name)Tom Begleyaccused, Paul McCleave, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul McCleave