Ireland Case No. 8785Dangerous driving causing death and drink driving · Co. Limerick · 20 Feb 2024
Man pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing deaths of two friends in Limerick crash
On 20 February 2024, a car driven by Patrick Carroll, then 19, crashed into a wall and a farmhouse pier at Ballyengland near Askeaton on the N69 in Co Limerick, and Darragh Dullea (21, from Clonakilty, Co Cork) and Cillian Kirwan (19, from Piltown, Co Kilkenny), who were college friends, were killed. Carroll, now 22 and of Drinagh, Fivealley, Birr, Co Offaly, made admissions at the scene and to gardaí, and a test showed a blood alcohol level almost three times the legal limit. At Limerick Circuit Court on 1 July 2026 he pleaded guilty to drink driving and dangerous driving causing death, and the judge remanded him in custody by consent until the Friday. On 3 July 2026 he was jailed for four years and banned from driving for eight years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted1 Jul
- Sentenced1 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Patrick Carroll pleaded guilty to drink driving and dangerous driving causing the deaths of two of his college friends.
- Darragh Dullea (21, from Clonakilty, Co Cork) and Cillian Kirwan (19, from Piltown, Co Kilkenny) were killed in the crash.
- A third passenger in the car survived the collision and was treated in hospital along with Carroll.
- Where
- The car crashed into a wall and a farmhouse pier at Ballyengland near Askeaton, off the N69 in Co Limerick.
- When
- The collision took place on 20 February 2024.
- Cause
- The car crossed to the other side of the road before the crash.
- Carroll was 19 and drunk when he crashed the car, and a test showed his blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit.
- Other details
- Darragh Dullea and Cillian Kirwan were killed instantly.
- The court took into account Carroll's guilty plea, remorse, immature age at the time, lack of prior convictions, a positive probation report, and letters he wrote to the dead men's families.
- Investigation
- Carroll made admissions of guilt at the scene and again while being questioned by gardaí, and cooperated fully with the garda investigation.
- Inspector Padraig Sutton of Henry Street Garda Station outlined the movements of the students in the hours before the collision at the sentencing hearing.
- Charges
- Carroll pleaded guilty to drink driving and dangerous driving causing death.
- In court
- The sentencing hearing took place at Limerick Circuit Court on 1 July 2026, where Judge McAleese remanded Carroll in custody by consent and adjourned the case until Friday.
- Sentence
- On 3 July 2026 Carroll was jailed for four years and banned from driving for eight years.
22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPatrick Carroll pleaded guilty to drink driving and dangerous driving causing the deaths of two of his college friends. (rte.ie)
- whatPatrick Carroll pleaded guilty to drunk-driving and dangerous driving causing the deaths of two of his college friends. (thejournal.ie)
- whatDarragh Dullea (21) and Cillian Kirwan (19) were killed in the crash. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA third passenger in the car survived the collision. (thejournal.ie)
- whereCarroll crashed a car into a wall on the N69 in Co Limerick. (rte.ie)
- whereThe car crashed into a wall off the N69. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe car crashed into a wall at Ballyengland near Askeaton. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe collision took place on 20 February 2024. (rte.ie)
- whenThe collision happened on 20 February 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe car crossed to the other side of the road and crashed into a wall and a pier of a farmhouse at Ballyengland near Askeaton. (rte.ie)
- causeThe defendant was driving with a blood alcohol level almost three times the legal limit. (rte.ie)
- causeCarroll was 19 and drunk when he crashed the car. (thejournal.ie)
- causeA test showed Carroll's blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe accused made admissions of guilt at the scene and again while being questioned by gardaí. (rte.ie)
- investigationCarroll cooperated fully with the garda investigation. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe sentencing hearing took place at Limerick Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- courtCarroll's sentencing hearing was held at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge McAleese remanded the accused in custody by consent and adjourned the case until Friday, when he is expected to pass sentence. (rte.ie)
- sentenceCarroll was jailed for four years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceCarroll was banned from driving for eight years. (thejournal.ie)
- otherDarragh Dullea and Cillian Kirwan were killed instantly. (rte.ie)
- otherThe court took into account Carroll's guilty plea, remorse, immature age at the time, lack of prior convictions and a positive probation report. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jul2026Man who killed college friends in drink-driving crash jailed for four years
Sentencing report: Carroll jailed for four years and banned from driving for eight years; the court heard he had written letters to the dead men's families.
convicted, Patrick Carroll, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Carrollvictim, Darragh Dullea, 21, male, irish (judged from name)Darragh Dulleavictim, Cillian Kirwan, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Cillian Kirwan - 1 Jul2026Man 'truly sorry' for crash that caused death of friends
Sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court; the accused pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody by consent, with sentence expected on the Friday.
convicted, Patrick Carroll, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Carrollvictim, Darragh Dullea, 21, male, irish (judged from name)Darragh Dulleavictim, Cillian Kirwan, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Cillian Kirwan