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. 7269Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Clare · 19 Feb 2022

Man pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing death of Stephanie Fitzpatrick in Clare

Damian McNamara, a 39-year-old man from Lissatunna, Ennistymon, was driving the car in which Stephanie Fitzpatrick, a woman and front-seat passenger, died in a crash at Cloonaveigh, Lahinch Road, Ennistymon, County Clare, on Saturday, 19 February 2022. On Wednesday, 25 October 2023, McNamara pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Court to dangerous driving causing her death and to drink driving from the same location and date, on a day the case had been listed for trial. Members of Ms Fitzpatrick's family, accompanied by a Garda liaison officer, attended the arraignment. No sentence has been reported, so the latest development is the guilty pleas.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted25 Oct
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Damian McNamara, 39, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Stephanie Fitzpatrick.
Where
  • The crash happened at Cloonaveigh, Lahinch Road, Ennistymon, County Clare.
  • McNamara is from Lissatunna, Ennistymon.
When
The fatal crash happened on Saturday, 19 February 2022.
Other details
  • Ms Fitzpatrick was a front-seat passenger in the car driven by McNamara at the time of the crash.
  • Members of Ms Fitzpatrick's family, accompanied by a Garda liaison officer, attended the arraignment.
  • Counsel for McNamara, Michael Collins, said McNamara was in a relationship with Ms Fitzpatrick at the time and that there are sensitivities on both sides.
Charges
McNamara also pleaded guilty to drink driving from the same location on the same date.
In court
  • The pleas were entered at Ennis Circuit Court on Wednesday, 25 October 2023.
  • The case had been listed for trial on the day of the plea.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported in the articles.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDamian McNamara pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Stephanie Fitzpatrick. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe crash happened at Cloonaveigh, Lahinch Road, Ennistymon. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe fatal crash happened on Saturday, 19 February 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMcNamara also pleaded guilty to drink driving from the same location on the same date. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe pleas were entered at Ennis Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case had been listed for trial on the day of the plea. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMs Fitzpatrick was a front-seat passenger in the car driven by McNamara. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMembers of Ms Fitzpatrick's family, accompanied by a Garda liaison officer, attended the arraignment. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCounsel for McNamara said he was in a relationship with Ms Fitzpatrick at the time and that there are sensitivities on both sides. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Oct2023
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing death of woman in Clare last year

    Reports the guilty pleas at Ennis Circuit Court, the location of the crash, that Ms Fitzpatrick was a front-seat passenger, and that the case had been listed for trial. No sentence is reported.

    convicted, Damian McNamara, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Damian McNamaravictim, Stephanie Fitzpatrick, female, irish (judged from name)Stephanie Fitzpatrick