Conviction for worst traffic accident found ‘unduly lenient’
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The Court of Appeal has doubled the sentence of a man whose dangerous driving caused the worst traffic accident in Ireland’s history.
Mr Justice George Birmingham found that a four-year sentence, with two years suspended, was “unduly lenient” for Shaun Kelly, 27, who admitted causing the death of eight men on a road between Clonmany and Buncrana in 2010.
Mr Kelly’s sentence has been increased to eight years following a successful application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Mr Justice Birmingham acknowledged that three of the victims’ families had called for lenience, but said their views could not determine the sentence in a public prosecution.
However, the court accepted Mr Kelly’s youth, guilty plea and injuries in mitigation.
The court decided to suspend four years of the sentence.
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