Justice for Joe: UL Student Life expresses their solidarity for Joe and his family
Joe Drennan, a UL Journalism student and former Limerick Voice editor, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run incident in October 2023. Kieran Fogarty, the man responsible for the death of Joe Drennan, was sentenced to six and a half years. He was handed an eight-year sentence for firearm offences, with both sentences to be served concurrently. Following this verdict, Joe Drennan’s family has publicly expressed their outrage with the verdict and is currently campaigning for its appeal.
UL Student Life, the university’s student representative body, released a statement expressing their disappointment with last Thursday’s verdict.
The statement reads:
“UL Student Life is deeply saddened and outraged by the sentence imposed on Kieran Fogarty, who killed UL student Joe Drennan in a hit-and-run in October 2023. We stand in solidarity with Joe’s family in our shared frustration and disbelief at the lack of justice for him.
Despite the severity of his actions, Kieran Fogarty received a six-and-a-half-year sentence for dangerous driving causing death and an eight-year sentence for a drive-by shooting in June of the same year, in which no one was killed. These sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve just eight years in total.
Joe was an incredible member of our community, leaving a lasting legacy within our student body. We firmly believe this sentence fails to deliver justice for Joe and his family and reflects a deeply concerning leniency in handling such a violent crime.”
UL Student Life President Ronan Cahill added:
“As a Students’ Union committed to justice and protecting the interests of our members, this sentence is disgraceful and does nothing to deliver the justice Joe and his family deserve. Joe contributed immensely to our community at UL, and his tragic death has left a lasting impact on his peers. He was a hardworking student who was taken from us while waiting for his bus home, and this sentence is simply not acceptable. I want to assure Joe’s family and friends that we are here to support them in any way possible to fight for the justice he deserves.”
Students and staff at the University of Limerick will have the opportunity to show their solidarity with Joe and his family on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. on campus.
Journalism students at the University of Limerick will be hosting an act of solidarity in the main plaza area. Joe’s parents, Marguerite and Tim Drennan will travel to Limerick for the event.