Teen sentenced to custody after pleading guilty to fatal hit‑and‑run

A 19‑year‑old from Castleconnell, Keelan O’Connell, was remanded in custody this week after pleading guilty to a fatal hit‑and‑run that killed nurse Aine O’Reilly.

The incident occurred on Friday, 13 February, at 11.10 pm on the N24 at Grange West, Boher, Co Limerick. O’Connell, who was high on cannabis and “fast gas”, was driving a high‑powered VW Golf at excess speed and attempted a dangerous manoeuvre that caused a collision with a Peugeot. The impact forced the Peugeot into the path of O’Reilly’s Nissan Micra, resulting in her instant death.

Garda Tony Burke of Henry Street Garda Station testified that O’Connell fled the scene on foot without offering assistance. He later surrendered to gardai a few days later and admitted his drug use.

O’Connell faced eight charges, including dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to the Peugeot driver, hit‑and‑run offences, failure to offer assistance, failure to report the collision, driving without a licence and without insurance. He did not respond to the earlier charge at Limerick District Court.

Judge Colin Daly refused bail, citing the risk of further serious offences, and remanded O’Connell in continuing custody pending a sentencing hearing in November.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Karl Solano / Pexels.