University of Limerick (UL) students are holding a public vigil on Thursday, February 6, demanding justice for Joe Drennan, a 21-year-old journalist who was killed in a tragic hit-and-run in October 2023.
Joe Drennan was a talented journalism student, the editor of Limerick Voice, and a beloved GCN contributor. Last week, Kieran Fogarty pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing his death. Fogarty, who was driving while disqualified and on bail, already had 46 previous convictions, including 41 for road traffic offences. He was sentenced to six and a half years for Joe’s death and eight years for illegally discharging a firearm in a separate drive-by shooting offence in April 2023 to be served concurrently, meaning he will only serve eight years total.
Following the hearing, Joe’s family expressed their anger and condemned the sentencing, saying it fails to deliver justice and does not reflect the devastating impact of their loss.
Joe’s father, Tim Drennan, questioned Judge Colin Daly directly, asking: “Sorry, your honour, does that mean that this fella will not serve a day for killing my son?”
Later, Tim Drennan, added: “(Fogarty) got a free ride for killing Joe. He got eight years for shooting into a wall, and he got six and half years for killing Joe, and he’s not going to be serving anything for Joe because the other one is a longer sentence.”
Joe’s sister, Sarah Drennan, told reporters: “My brother didn’t deserve to die, and this sentence is disgusting. We have been given a life sentence.”
The Drennan family launched a social media campaign using the hashtag #JusticeForJoe in hopes that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will appeal Fogarty’s concurrent sentence and instead order him to serve the time consecutively. Students are organising a vigil in solidarity with Joe’s family, inviting the Limerick community to gather at 1:30pm on Thursday in front of the university’s Main Building at the Brown Thomas Statue. The gathering will honour Joe and call on the DPP to appeal the terms of his killer’s sentence.
Please join @journalismatUL students and @LimerickVoice reporting team who have organised this important show of solidarity with Joe Drennan’s family in @UL on Thursday Feb 6th at 1.30pm #JusticeForJoe pic.twitter.com/7gN2dh9Be3
— Kathryn Hayes (@Hayes_Cait) February 4, 2025
Many students feel particularly called to demand justice for Joe Drennan because of his own values and journalism work.
Limerick Voice‘s Deputy Managing Editor, Jack McKay called Joe “a journalist with a keen sense of justice”. He added: “We want to show our solidarity with the Drennan Family and help and raise awareness for their campaign.”
The Limerick Voice editorial team invites everyone in the community to come out at 1:30pm on Thursday to call for the sentence to be appealed.
Limerick Voice stands in solidarity with the Drennan family. Join us this Thursday, Feb 6, at 1:30 PM on the UL Main Plaza for a vigil honoring Joe Drennan.
🕊️ #JusticeForJoe #limerick #limerickvoice #Limericknews pic.twitter.com/R52N5LehzU
— Limerick Voice (@LimerickVoice) February 4, 2025
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