Ronan Keating has said that his family are ‘hugely disappointed’ after a man was given a suspended sentence following a crash that killed his brother.
Ronan’s brother Ciaran was killed in a crash in Co Mayo while driving to Cork to watch his son Ruairi play a League of Ireland match for Cork City in July 2023.
Dean Harte, from Tyrellspass in Co Westmeath, was given a 17-month suspended sentence for careless driving, and was suspended from driving for two years following Mr. Keating’s death.
Mr. Keating’s family have expressed their frustrations and disappointment at the leniency of Harte’s sentencing, with Ronan taking to his Instagram to express the family’s surprise and disappointment with the sentencing — urging the DPP to appeal the leniency of it.
"The Keating family are surprised and hugely disappointed with the sentence [of Harte] and hope and expect the DPP to appeal the leniency of it," Ronan’s statement said.
"We will be encouraging the DPP to appeal and rightfully fight for justice. Not only for Ciaran and our family, but for all of those killed on Irish roads and at the hands of someone else’s careless actions.
"The only way to stop reckless driving and encourage people (especially youth) to abide by the law, is to enforce consequences for not doing so."
Ronan added in the statement’s caption: "No family should ever have to make an official statement of this nature, we thank you for your time and patience while we digested and composed ourselves after the upsetting events that transpired yesterday."
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According to RTÉ, the family and friends of Mr. Keating were present for the sentencing hearing, including his wife Annemarie and their three children.
On the night of the incident, Mr. Keating had been travelling with his wife to see their son Ruairi play football for Cork City in a Premier Division match against Sligo Rovers.
A victim impact statement was read out by Mr. Keating’s son Conall and stated that his mother had suffered sleepless nights, depression, physical scars as well and the scars of survival from the incident.
She was said to have described her late husband as "the love of my life, 41 years together, the beat of my heart."
It was said that the family home was now a place of desolation.
On behalf of his sister Aisling, Conall stated that she had been struggling to get out of bed and would now never be walked down the aisle by her father.
It was said she believes her family has been dealt a life sentence while Mr. Harte has been given a slap on the wrist.
Mr. Lyons had no previous convictions and has additionally been disqualified from driving for two years.
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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