“I have not stopped thinking about Joe’s family and close friends since the sentencing.”
On Thursday, January 30, Kieran Fogarty was sentenced to six and a half years for the death of Joe Drennan, a talented UL journalism student who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run incident in October 2023. Kieran Fogarty was also sentenced to eight years for separate firearm offences. Both sentences are to be served concurrently.
At just 21 years of age, Joe Drennan was known for championing diversity and justice throughout his work as a young journalist. As managing editor of the Limerick Voice and as a beloved contributor to Gay Community News, there was no doubt that Joe had a promising career ahead of him before he was killed in a hit-and-run incident. Tragically, it is now Joe’s family and friends who are campaigning for #JusticeForJoe in the hopes of getting this verdict appealed by the DPP.
“It is absolutely devastating to witness the injustice for someone you know and who exuded so much light and hope for other people and for humanity. He was going to do so many amazing things in this world and absolutely no sentence [for Kieran Fogarty] could bring that back. It’s just tragic. The DPP, if they are going to appeal any case, Joe’s case needs to be appealed” comments Lauren Beirne, former podcast editor for the Limerick Voice.
“I have not stopped thinking about Joe’s family and close friends since the sentencing. They must feel so incredibly cheated… the absolute least they deserve justice for Joe, who was killed in such horrific circumstances that were so preventable” comments Nicola Flynn, former breaking news editor of the Limerick Voice.
Kieran Fogarty’s sentence has been incredibly upsetting for those who knew Joe. The Limerick Voice spoke to past members of this student-led platform, who formerly worked alongside Joe.
“I am outraged at the sentencing of Kieran Fogarty, who senselessly and recklessly killed my best friend, Joe Drennan. We believed that justice would be served on Thursday, January 30 when he was being sentenced. Instead, we left more angry and heartbroken than ever.
Joe was a star; his talent was immense and the way he cared for the people he loved has left a mark on us all. This should have never happened. We are living a nightmare every day, trying to accept a life without him in it.” comments Ellie McCarthy
Síofra Grant, another former journalism graduate from UL believes the system failed her best friend,
“The sentencing is an appalling failure to Joey; it is an utter disgrace. He deserves better. His life was cut short by a dangerous individual who has no regard for the safety, well-being, and lives of others. The courts failed Joe, the judge failed to recognise the crimes that were committed,” expressed Síofra.
“Why is Kieran Fogarty allowed a reduced sentence? He received over 14 years in prison, and he should have to serve every single day of that sentence but no, he gets to serve them concurrently. Why does he get mercy when he showed Joe none?” Síofra added.
This sentiment was also echoed by former editor of the Limerick Voice, Molly Cantwell:
“It’s not good enough, this is not justice for Joe. He wanted to do so many good things with his life and would’ve done so many good things with his life.… I’m completely disgusted by it, to be honest.”
“He ran away, he wiped evidence, he has absolutely no care for what was right and wrong for the law when he was in that car and afterwards he didn’t care about what was right or wrong, he knew a family was suffering, he knew that he had killed someone, and he walked away from that scene and he didn’t turn himself in. It’s not right”
At 1.30 pm Thursday, February 6, current journalism students at the University of Limerick will be hosting an act of solidarity in the main plaza area in UL for Joe and his parents, Marguerite and Tim Drennan, who will also be in attendance. This follows the widespread campaign that has been started to get #JusticeforJoe.
“It’s heartbreaking watching so many of my friends and all of Joe’s family have to campaign for some degree of justice when that should never have been a question. The sentence given to him [Kieran Fogarty] is completely baffling and is bringing more upset into the lives of people who have already been left devastated by grief and shock and needs to be appealed immediately,” commented Joe Costigan, former digital editor of the Limerick Voice.