The family of Joe Drennan hope to “finally start the grieving process” as the Court of Appeal ruled that Kieran Fogarty – the man responsible for his death – will now serve an extra five years in prison.
Speaking to Limerick Voice after the appeal ruling Joe’s sister, Sarah Drennan, said her family was “absolutely wrecked” after the day in court, but “content with the outcome.”
“In the first sentencing, it just felt like Joe was completely forgotten about as a person. The court seemed to treat Joe’s death as something secondary,” she explained.
“Our hope for today was that we would get a consecutive sentence, and Fogarty would serve the time for what he did to Joe, to ensure that Joe got justice and that we got justice as well for the loss that we’re suffering and will continue to suffer.”
Ms Drennan added that it was “a hard day,” but that the new sentence “proved that Joe does matter and our loss matters.”
“Joe wasn’t just another statistic,” she continued. “He was my brother, he was a son and he was so, so amazing.”
Fogarty (21) of Hyde Road, Limerick, killed the talented UL journalism student and former Limerick Voice Editor-in-Chief in a hit-and-run two years ago.
He was initially sentenced in January to six-and-a-half years for dangerous driving causing the death of Joe Drennan in October 2023, and eight years for a drive-by shooting in June 2023, with the two sentences to be served concurrently.
This sentencing was widely critiqued, with a vigil being held on the UL campus in February to show support for the Drennan family and promote the #JusticeForJoe campaign.
The Court of Appeal ruled this Thursday, November 6, that Fogarty will serve another two years for the dangerous driving offence, with the final year suspended.
This is to be served consecutively to the sentence handed down for the firearms offence, which was reduced by a year, meaning Fogarty was jailed for a total of 13 years instead of eight.
After two years of campaigning to get justice for Joe, Sarah Drennan believes her family will now be able to “finally start the grieving process properly,” without court dates “hanging over [their] heads.”
“It’s definitely a relief that we don’t have to go back,” she said. “It’s genuinely re-traumatizing having to sit in a court and listen to the details of how Joe was killed.”