Case No. 1928Dangerous driving causing death, driving with no insurance, making a false report of a crime, failing to offer assistance · Co. Dublin · 12 Nov 2023
Mother of hit-and-run victim describes identifying son's body after driver sentenced to five years
Cameron Cooper, 23, was sentenced to five years and three months (final year suspended) at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death for killing 21-year-old Dylan Killalee Maher on the Naas Road and Turnpike Road in Ballyfermot in November 2023. Dylan's mother Catherine Killalee described identifying her son's body at the scene and said she will appeal the sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced24 Mar
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports40 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDylan Killalee Maher was a 21-year-old apprentice electrician (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper drove into the vehicle at an estimated 120km/h, twice the speed limit (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper had only been driving for a short period and did not have a full licence (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper drove without insurance and had no qualified driver in the car (irishtimes.com)
- whatDylan Killalee Maher died immediately (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper left the scene without offering or calling for assistance (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper attempted to report the car he was driving as stolen (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty at an early stage (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper was also training to be an electrician and was well spoken of by his employer (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper had a brother with additional needs who would be hard hit by his absence (irishtimes.com)
- whatDylan Killalee Maher, 21, died when Cameron Cooper drove a car into him at 120 km/h on 12 November 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper was driving at about 120 km/h in a 60 km/h area at the time of the collision. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDylan died almost instantly. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper left the scene and then tried to report the car he had been driving as stolen. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCooper presented himself to gardaí hours later. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDylan Killalee Maher, 21, was killed in a hit-and-run in November 2023. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe driver falsely told gardai his car had been stolen to avoid blame. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred on the road outside the Red Cow Inn nightclub in Ballyfermot, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whereDylan was standing at the back of a car getting his coat from the boot when he was hit outside the Red Cow Hotel on the Naas Road, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred at locations on the Naas Road and Turnpike Road. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe fatal incident occurred on 12 November 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe driver presented himself to a Garda station two hours after the crash. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe fatal crash occurred on 12 November 2023. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeThe driver was going at twice the speed limit when he hit the victim. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeCooper also pleaded guilty to driving with no insurance. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCooper pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, driving with no insurance, making a false report of a crime, and failing to offer assistance. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Courts of Justice (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceJudge Ronan Munro sentenced Cooper to five years and three months with the final 12 months suspended for five years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCooper was banned from driving for nine years commencing immediately (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge considered the appropriate headline sentence to be seven years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Ronan Munro sentenced Cooper to five years and three months in prison, with the last 12 months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCooper was banned from driving for nine years, beginning immediately. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCooper was sentenced to five years and three months with the final year suspended. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe family called for the maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing death to be increased from 10 years to at least 14 years (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe family is to contact the DPP in the coming days to ask for an appeal to be lodged against the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCatherine Killalee said she wanted the maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing death increased from 10 years to at least 14 years, the limit applicable in Northern Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge noted the maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing death is 10 years. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherCooper was a first-time offender with no previous convictions. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherCatherine Killalee has a constant tremor in her right arm. (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Apr2025Mother of hit-and-run victim describes moment she had to identify body at scene
Provides the victim's mother's account of identifying her son's body at the scene, her mental health impact, and her intention to appeal the sentence. Also notes the judge's comment that the maximum sentence is 10 years and that Cooper was a first-time offender.
victim, Dylan Killalee Maher, 21, male, irish (judged from name)Dylan Killalee Mahersuspect, Cameron Cooper, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cameron Coopervictim, Catherine Killalee, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine Killalee - 3 Apr2025Family of young man killed in hit-and-run to press DPP over ‘lenient’ sentence
Family to contact DPP for appeal; mother Catherine Killalee calls sentence too lenient and urges maximum sentence increase from 10 to 14 years; details of collision (120 km/h in 60 km/h zone, outside Red Cow Hotel); Cooper left scene and tried to report car as stolen before presenting to gardaí hours later.
victim, Dylan Killalee Maher, 21, male, irish (judged from name)Dylan Killalee Mahervictim, female, irish (judged from name)suspect, Cameron Cooper, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cameron Cooper - 24 Mar2025Family of man (21) killed when car hit him at 120km/h call for longer jail terms
Provides the victim's family's reaction to the sentencing and their campaign for longer maximum sentences, along with full details of the sentencing hearing including aggravating and mitigating factors considered by Judge Munro.
victim, Dylan Killalee Maher, 21, male, irish (judged from name)Dylan Killalee Mahersuspect, Cameron Cooper, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cameron Coopervictim, Catherine Killalee, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine Killalee