A MAN described by Gardaí as “a danger to the community” was refused bail after he was charged with causing the death of a University of Limerick journalism student in a hit-and-run collision.
Gardaí arrested Kieran Fogarty (20), of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, and charged him with offences including dangerous driving causing the death UL student Joe Drennan on Friday October 13, 2023.
Mr Fogarty was also charged with driving without insurance or a license at the time.
Detective Garda Shane O’Neill, of Roxboro Road Garda Station, told a bail hearing held at Limerick District Court that, moments prior to the fatal collision, Mr Fogarty was observed by Gardaí driving a black BMW “dangerously” and “at speed”.
The court heard that Mr Fogarty overtook a Garda patrol car at speed as he drove the BMW from the Annacotty area towards Limerick City.
Gardaí activated the patrol car’s blue lights and sirens and followed Mr Fogarty “at a safe distance”, Detective O’Neill said.
He alleged the BMW driven by Kieran Fogarty continued at speed, broke a red light, and collided with a white Volkswagen car, injuring the male driver and female front seat passenger within.
Detective O’Neill further alleged Mr Fogarty then “lost control” of the BMW, which mounted a kerb near a bus stop and struck Mr Drennan, who was fatally injured.
He further claimed Mr Fogarty exited the BMW “and failed to remain at the scene and failed to render assistance to Joe Drennan”.
“The DPP is considering further serious charges,” said Detective O’Neill.
The detective objected to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, as well as O’Callaghan Rules, stating that there was strong evidence against Mr Fogarty, including CCTV footage, which placed the accused as the only occupant of the car.
Detective O’Neill alleged that DNA gleamed by forensic investigators from an airbag that had deployed in the BMW in the collision on the night matched Mr Fogarty.
He further alleged that Gardaí had unearthed text messages in which Mr Fogarty allegedly discussed leaving the jurisdiction and where he had told others he was involved in a collision in which a person had died.
Detective O’Neill said that, given the “seriousness of the charges”, Kieran Fogarty was, in his opinion, “a danger to the community” and should not be released on bail.
If granted bail, Mr Fogarty would commit further serious offences and would not answer the charges against him, the detective alleged.
The court heard Mr Fogarty’s partner is due to give birth in June to the couple’s first child.
Judge Carol Anne Coolican said Mr Fogarty was entitled to the presumption of innocence and that the charges against him were allegations.
The judge said she was satisfied with allegations outlined in the State’s bail pack.
She remanded Mr Fogarty in custody to appear before Limerick District Court via video-link on January 23.
Mr Fogarty’s solicitor, Darach McCarthy, applied to have the bail hearing heard in camera, however Sergeant Ashling O’Neill, of Roxboro Road Garda Station, said she was opposed to the application and the State did not have any reason for having the bail hearing heard in camera.
Refusing the application, Judge Carol Anne Coolican said that “justice needs to be administered in public”.
From Mountrath in County Laois, Mr Drennan was the joint editor-in-chief at UL’s student newspaper, Limerick Voice, and was shortlisted for the Journalist of the Year prize at the 2023 Student Media Awards.
