Ireland Case No. 13625Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Tipperary · 2 Mar 2023
Man sentenced for dangerous driving causing death in Thurles
On 2 March 2023, Adam Kirwan, a 22-year-old from Mountrath, Laois, died after a car driven by his college friend Seán Fitzpatrick hit a kerb at College Green, Thurles, County Tipperary, while Kirwan was standing on the open driver's door during a journey of more than a kilometre. Fitzpatrick, 22, of Ballybrophy, Portlaoise, admitted dangerous driving causing death, driving with excess alcohol, and driving without insurance. In May 2025, Judge Catherine Staines at the Circuit Criminal Court in Nenagh sentenced Fitzpatrick to three years in jail with the final 18 months suspended, though some reports described the sentence as 18 months.
- Reported2 Mar
6 reports - Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 May
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A fatal single-vehicle collision occurred when a car hit a kerb after the driver misjudged a corner, killing a 22-year-old man who was standing on the open driver's door.
- Where
- The collision took place at College Green, Monakeeba, Thurles, County Tipperary.
- When
- The collision occurred at approximately 3:15am on Thursday 2 March 2023.
- Cause
- Fitzpatrick's alcohol reading was more than twice the drink-driving limit, and Kirwan was standing on the door frame holding the roof while the car was driven for more than a kilometre.
- Investigation
- Gardaí conducted a forensic technical examination, appealed for witnesses and video footage, and gathered CCTV that was played at the sentencing hearing.
- Charges
- Seán Fitzpatrick admitted dangerous driving causing death, driving with excess alcohol, and driving without insurance.
- In court
- The case was heard before Judge Catherine Staines at the Circuit Criminal Court in Nenagh.
- Sentence
- Fitzpatrick was sentenced to three years in jail with the final 18 months suspended, though some reports described the sentence as 18 months.
- Other details
- Both men were 22-year-old students at Mary Immaculate College, St Patrick's Campus, Thurles, studying to become teachers, and Fitzpatrick had no previous convictions.
- Kirwan suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene after being treated by paramedics; his body was removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick.
74 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe incident was a fatal single-vehicle road traffic collision involving a car. (tipperarylive.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 20s was treated at the scene by paramedics but was later pronounced deceased. (tipperarylive.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo other people were in the car at the time but no other injuries were reported. (tipperarylive.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA single-vehicle collision occurred at College Green, Thurles, killed a man in his 20s. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatHe played for Trumera GAA. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatHe played Minor hurling for Laois in 2018 and 2019. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatHe was on the U-20 Laois hurling team from 2020 and was chosen on the panel for the last three years. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatHe was part of the MIC St Pat's team that defeated TU Dublin Blanchardstown in the Ryan Cup the week before his death. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatLaois Senior hurler Aaron Dunphy captained the MIC St Pat's side. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatOisin Phelan from Castletown also featured on the MIC St Pat's team. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatIn 2021 he was instrumental in Trumera being crowned Intermediate County champions. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatAs a minor he won a county championship in 2018 playing with Clough-Ballacolla/Mountrath. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatA 22-year-old Laois hurler was killed in a road traffic crash in Tipperary. (extra.ie)
- whatFitzpatrick admitted dangerous driving causing the death of a college friend. (rte.ie)
- whatFitzpatrick admitted dangerous driving causing the death of his then 22-year-old college friend. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatHe also admitted driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatA young Laois man was jailed for dangerous driving that caused the death of his friend, Adam Kirwan. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whatKirwan suffered severe head injuries in the crash. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whereThe collision occurred at College Green in Thurles, County Tipperary. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whereThe crash took place at College Green in Thurles, County Tipperary. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe crash took place at College Green, Thurles, County Tipperary. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe crash occurred at College Green, Thurles, County Tipperary. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHe was a past pupil of Mountrath Community School. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereHe went on to study at MIC, St. Patrick's Campus, Thurles. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident happened on a night out in Co Tipperary. (rte.ie)
- whereThe car hit a kerb and ended up on a green area at College Green, Monakeeba. (leinsterexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred at approximately 3:15am on Thursday 2 March 2023. (tipperarylive.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred at around 3:15 am on 2 March 2023. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenAdam Kirwan died in a road accident in the early hours of Thursday morning, 2 March, in Tipperary. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe death happened on 2 March 2023. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident took place in Thurles on 2 March 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred in Thurles on March 2, 2023. (tipperarylive.ie)
- causeKirwan was hanging out of the driver's door while the car was driven for more than a kilometre. (rte.ie)
- causeThe car hit a kerb after the driver misjudged a corner. (rte.ie)
- causeFitzpatrick's alcohol reading was more than twice the drink driving limit. (rte.ie)
- causeHe drove the car while twice the drink-driving limit. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- causeFitzpatrick drove the car despite being twice the drink driving limit. (tipperarylive.ie)
- causeKirwan held the roof and open driver's door while standing on the ledge during a 1.3km journey. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationA post-mortem examination is to take place in due course. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationA technical examination of the scene is underway by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. (tipperarylive.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and video footage including dash-cam. (tipperarylive.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- investigationA post-mortem examination is to take place. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí issued an appeal for witnesses and video footage including dash-cam. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA post-mortem examination will take place in due course. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and video footage including dash-cam footage. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí gathered CCTV footage that was played at the sentencing hearing. (rte.ie)
- investigationA third student recorded parts of the journey on a mobile phone from the back seat. (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeFitzpatrick also admitted driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance. (rte.ie)
- chargeFitzpatrick admitted dangerous driving causing death. (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeFitzpatrick also admitted driving with excess alcohol and without insurance. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at the Circuit Criminal Court in Nenagh. (rte.ie)
- courtThe sentence was handed down at the Circuit Criminal Court in Nenagh. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe sentence was imposed by Judge Catherine Staines at the Circuit Criminal Court in Nenagh. (tipperarylive.ie)
- sentenceJudge Catherine Staines sentenced Fitzpatrick to three years in jail, with the final 18 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe article's headline says he was jailed for 18 months. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJudge Staines sentenced Fitzpatrick to three years in jail, with the final 18 months suspended. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe article's opening line reports he was jailed for 18 months. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceFitzpatrick was sentenced to three years in jail, with the final 18 months suspended due to mitigating factors. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe victim's body was removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe deceased's body was removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe deceased was aged in his early 20s. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe deceased was a native of Mountrath in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe deceased was a student in Thurles. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe deceased was well known in GAA circles as an emerging hurling talent. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe man was treated at the scene by paramedics but was later pronounced dead. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherHis body was removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick for a post-mortem. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherTwo other people were in the car but no other injuries were reported. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe body was removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNo funeral arrangements had been released as of the time of publication. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherFitzpatrick had no previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherVictim impact statements from Kirwan's mother and sister were heard in court. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge said the driving was highly reckless. (rte.ie)
- otherMr Kirwan held the roof and open driver's door while standing on the ledge during the journey. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherA third student recorded part of the journey on his phone from the back seat. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 May2025LIVE: Man jailed for dangerous driving causing a friend's death in Tipperary
Reports the sentencing of Seán Fitzpatrick. The headline says he was jailed for 18 months, while the body says he received three years with the final 18 months suspended. The article also states he admitted dangerous driving causing death, driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance.
convicted, Seán Fitzpatrick, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seán Fitzpatrickvictim, Adam Kirwan, 22, male, irish (judged from name)Adam Kirwan - 16 May2025Laois man jailed for dangerous driving causing a friend's death
Adds that Fitzpatrick also admitted driving with excess alcohol and without insurance, that he drove with twice the drink-driving limit, how Mr Kirwan was positioned on the car during the journey, that a third student filmed part of it, and the court and location details. The article's opening line says he was jailed for 18 months, while the body says three years with 18 months suspended.
convicted, Seán Fitzpatrick, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seán Fitzpatrickvictim, Adam Kirwan, 22, male, irish (judged from name)Adam Kirwan - 16 May2025Man jailed for dangerous driving causing death of friend
Reports the sentencing hearing at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court: three-year sentence with final 18 months suspended, victim impact statements, mitigation and the judge's comments. The headline says he was jailed for 18 months, which differs from the body text.
victim, Adam Kirwan, male, irish (judged from name)Adam Kirwanconvicted, Sean Fitzpatrick, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Fitzpatrick - 2 Mar2023Tributes Paid To Talented Laois Hurler, 22, Killed In Tipperary Crash
Tribute article; the body text is almost entirely website template code, with only the headline providing substantive detail about the fatal crash.
victim, 22, irish (judged from name) - 2 Mar2023Young hurling prodigy from the Midlands killed in road accident
Tribute/obituary piece providing details about Adam Kirwan's GAA career, education and community involvement following his death in the road accident.
victim, Adam Kirwan, male, irish (judged from name)Adam Kirwan - 2 Mar2023Gardai appeal for witnesses after man dies in early morning crash in Tipperary
Gardaí appealing for witnesses and video footage; technical examination underway by Forensic Collision Investigators; post-mortem to be conducted at University Hospital Limerick.
victim, 20s, malevictimvictim - 2 Mar2023Young man killed in early morning car crash in Tipperary
Initial report of the fatal single-vehicle collision; Gardaí appealing for witnesses and video footage.
victim, 20s, male - 2 Mar2023Gardaí confirm death in Thurles crash in which Laois man died
Garda HQ statement confirming the death and providing details of the fatal single-vehicle crash; victim identified as a young Laois man and emerging hurling talent.
victim, early 20s, male, irish (judged from name)victimvictim - 2 Mar2023BREAKING: Gardaí issue statement after fatal car crash in Tipperary
Initial Garda statement reporting the fatal crash, the victim's death, and the launch of a forensic technical examination and public appeal.
victim, 20s, male