Ireland Man sentenced for dangerous driving causing death of Adam Kirwan in Thurles
On 2 March 2023, Adam Kirwan, 22, died in Thurles, Co Tipperary, after the car driven by Seán Fitzpatrick, 22, of Ballybrophy, Co Laois, hit a kerb during a night out. Fitzpatrick admitted dangerous driving causing death, driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance, and gardaí gathered CCTV footage that was played at the hearing. On 16 May 2025 at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Catherine Staines sentenced him to three years in jail with the final 18 months suspended, although one headline said he was jailed for 18 months. The latest reports, dated 27 May 2025, repeat these sentence details.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 May
3 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Seán Fitzpatrick, 22, admitted dangerous driving causing the death of his college friend, Adam Kirwan, 22.
- Kirwan, a former Laois minor and under-20 hurler, suffered severe head injuries in the crash.
- Where
- The incident happened on a night out in Thurles, Co Tipperary, less than 50 metres from where the pair planned to stay.
- The car ended up on a green area at College Green, Monakeeba.
- When
- The incident took place on 2 March 2023.
- Cause
- Kirwan was hanging out of the open driver's door, holding the roof, while the car was driven for more than a kilometre.
- The car hit a kerb after the driver misjudged a corner.
- Fitzpatrick's alcohol reading was more than twice the drink-driving limit.
- Investigation
- Gardaí gathered CCTV footage that was played at the sentencing hearing, and a third student filmed part of the journey on a phone from the back seat.
- Charges
- Fitzpatrick admitted dangerous driving causing death, driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance.
- In court
- The case was heard at the Circuit Criminal Court in Nenagh before Judge Catherine Staines.
- Sentence
- Judge Staines sentenced Fitzpatrick to three years in jail with the final 18 months suspended, although one headline said he was jailed for 18 months.
- Other details
- Fitzpatrick had no previous convictions, and the judge said the driving was highly reckless.
- Victim impact statements from Kirwan's mother and sister were heard in court.
34 statements extracted from the articles
- 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 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 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)
- 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)
- 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