A MAN who killed a University of Limerick student in a hit and run filmed himself on a mobile phone driving at “reckless” speeds just moments before the fatal collision.
Kieran Fogarty (21), was driving a 5 Series BMW at 122kp/h in a 50kp/h zone before breaking a red light and colliding with a car and a wall, killing UL journalism student Joe Drennan, who the court heard he left dying pinned underneath the body of the car.
21-year-old Joe Drennan, from County Laois, had been waiting at a bus stop on the Dublin Road in Castletroy, having finished his shift at work, when Fogarty hit him after he lost control of the BMW, on October 13, 2023, Fogarty’s sentencing hearing was told.
The court heard Fogarty overtook a Garda patrol car at high speed shortly before the fatal collision. The Garda car had followed Fogarty on the night, concerned over his speed, but ultimately lost him and had gone in another direction prior to the collision.
At the time, Fogarty was on bail for other driving offences and under court orders not to drive, the court heard, and there were five outstanding arrest warrants for him.
Fogarty, of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, attempted to wipe his DNA from inside the BMW immediately after the collision, the court heard.
Mr O’Sullivan said Fogarty immediately went “on the run”, and that an hour after the collision he sent messages to a “criminal associate”, including one which said “I’m after killin a 21-year-old and a woman”, believing he had killed two people.
Despite pleas from his mother, Fogarty said he would not hand himself in to Gardaí, and continued to evade them until he was arrested a month later.
“What do you want me to do, go up to the (Garda) barracks and say I killed someone stone dead on the road and I don’t even think they know it was me,” Fogarty texted his mother, the court heard.
“I got to wipe the car down a small bit before I even got out of it. Ye don’t realise that though do ye,” Fogarty also told his mother.
The court heard Fogarty also sent a voice message to a “criminal associate” along with a screenshot of a newspaper article about the collision, saying: “I don’t know how I was able to walk out of that son, watch how bad the beamer is in that, boy it’s wrapped around the pole and all.”
“I spun about 10 times I’d say, I bounced off a wall and took that young fella with me at the bus stop cause his bus wasn’t there in time.”
Apology ‘rings hollow’
The court was played harrowing CCTV footage captured from inside the bus Joe Drennan was about to get on, showing the fatal hit and run, and showing Fogarty running from the scene 14 seconds after the collision.
Fogarty remained silent during his first two interviews with Gardaí, but after Gardaí showed him CCTV and DNA evidence linking him to the car, he admitted he was the driver and that he had fled the scene.
A letter of apology to Joe Drennan’s family, read out in court by his barrister, Mark Nicolas, Mr Fogarty wrote: “I was reckless and out of control, I did not realise I hit Mr Drennan, it was never my intention to hurt anyone on the night. I am truly sorry.”
“I take full responsibility, I am deeply ashamed, no sentence imposed on me will ever be long enough for Mr Drennan’s family and friends.”
Inspector Padraig Sutton, who led the investigation, told the court that, in his opinion, Fogarty’s apology “rings hollow”, and he believed the apology was a mere tactical measure by the defendant.
Joe Drennan’s sister, Sarah Drennan, wept in court as she recounted how her brother’s death “has left an unbearable emptiness” for her family.
Ms Drennan said her deceased brother had been made editor in chief of the Limerick Voice, the University of Limerick student newspaper, and was nominated for national journalism awards a few weeks prior to his death.
“He had a heart of gold, he was wise beyond his years, he had a huge infectious smile, he gave the best hugs, and knowing that we will not see his smile or feel his hugs will haunt us forever.”
Mr Fogarty’s own barrister said his client’s driving was “appalling, undeniably serious, reckless, dangerous, disgraceful, and inexcusable”.
Fogarty pleaded guilty to 10 offences arising out of the collision, including dangerous driving causing death, failing to assist Mr Drennan, and failing to notify the emergency services.
Judge Colin Daly said he had a lot to consider and that he would pass sentence on January 30.
