The case will now be brought to the Court of Appeal
The DPP has lodged an appeal against the sentence given to the man responsible for the death of University of Limerick student Joe Drennan, Limerick Voice can reveal.
Speaking from her home in Co Laois, Marguerite Drennan, Joe’s mother confirmed that the family had been notified of the appeal on Wednesday morning.
“We got the appeal! It’s great news, thank God. We are delighted and we want to thank everyone who has helped support our campaign,” she said.
The 21-year-old University of Limerick journalism student was tragically killed in a hit-and-run in October 2023.
The Drennan family launched their #Justiceforjoe campaign following the sentencing hearing of Kieran Fogarty at Limerick Circuit court on January 30th last.
Fogarty who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of the talented young journalism student in October 2023 received a six-and-a-half-year sentence, which the judge ordered be served concurrent with an eight-year sentence imposed for a shooting incident in June 2023.
The family sought the appeal on the basis that the sentences should be served separately.
Almost 12,000 people have signed a petition launched as part of the #JusticeForJoe campaign, which has also attracted thousands of people onto the streets for vigils which have taken place in UL, Limerick city centre and in Laois since the sentencing hearing.
Earlier this week the Drennan family travelled to Dail Eireann and the office of the DPP as part of their campaign.