A "threatening" letter sent to a judge over a concurrent jail sentence for a hit-and-run killer is to be investigated by Gardaí.

The handwritten correspondence for Judge Colin Daly was intercepted by courts services staff at the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

Sources said that while it is “not uncommon” for members of the judiciary to receive letters in respect of court cases, the nature of the letter in question raised enough alarm for Gardaí to be contacted.

Gardaí have said they are aware of the correspondence and that enquiries are ongoing.

On January 30th, Judge Daly sentenced gangland criminal Kieran Fogarty to six-and-a-half years in prison after Fogarty admitted dangerous driving causing the death of journalism student Joe Drennan.

Limerick student Joe Drennan. Image: RIP.ie

The judge initially said that Fogarty's hit-and-run sentence would run consecutively to an eight-year firearms sentence he also imposed on Fogarty.

However, Judge Daly corrected himself in court, telling the hearing that Fogarty’s two sentences would actually run concurrently, meaning Fogarty would not serve any jail time for the fatal hit and run.

Protest

The sentencing sparked public outcry, with a vigil and protest march in Limerick last week calling on the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal the terms of the sentence on grounds it was unduly lenient and that both sentences should run consecutively.

The Court Services did not respond when asked for comment about the letter.

Joe Drennan's mother Marguerite Drennan said her family had not been involved with the letter.

“I wouldn’t condone that now, no way,” she said.

A spokeswoman for the DPP said last week it “does not comment on individual cases”.

Reporting by David Raleigh.

Main image: Limerick Court Office, Criminal and Licensing, Limerick. Ireland. Image: Karlis D / Alamy. 9 May 2023