The family of hit and run victim Joe Drennan have said they are “so delighted” the Director of Public Prosecution will appeal the driver’s sentence.
In October 2023, Mr Drennan was waiting for a bus in Limerick when he was knocked over by a car and fatally injured.
The driver, Kieran Fogarty, was given a six-and-a-half year sentence, which he will serve concurrently alongside an eight-year jail term for firearms offence.
In response, the family have organised a ‘Justice for Joe’ campaign and today announced that the DPP had agreed to appeal the sentence.
“When the sentence was given, we just felt like the justice system completely forgot Joe,” Sarah Drennan told The Hard Shoulder.
“It was such an injustice, a concurrent sentence, to my brother, to my family and the loss that we suffered.”
The family of Joe Drennan outside Leinster House. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ieMs Drennan described the appeal system as “so hard” for victims.
“People just say, ‘It’s a process, it’s a process’ - but to us, it’s my brother and it’s my Mam and Dad’s son,” he said.
“It’s not a process to us; that’s why we’re so delighted now that there is an appeal and hope we will get justice for Joe.
“It’s been tough because no family should have to advocate for justice as much as we have.
“At least now, we’re finally seeing something for Joe.”
A 'Justice for Joe' protest outside Leinster House. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ieMs Drennan said that when the sentence was announced in court, it felt “ like a punch in the stomach” for her entire family.
“We just felt like the justice system completely forgot about Joe,” she said.
“There was just no justice given; there was no acknowledgement of the loss of Joe.”
A petition on Change.org urging the Government to consider sentencing reforms in the wake of Mr Drennan’s death has been signed by close to 12,000 people.
