Drunk driver jailed for killing best friend in Louth crash

A drunk and uninsured driver who killed his best friend when the car he was driving crashed into a fallen tree during a red storm warning, has been jailed at Dundalk Circuit Court for three years and nine months.

Conor Duffy (27) of Channonrock, Dundalk had been drinking in a pub in Louth Village with Kate Keenan and another friend, and was a short distance from his home in the early hours of January 22nd last year, when the Volkswagen Caddy he was driving collided with a fallen tree on the L-1140 at Monvallet, Louth.

None of the occupants of the van were wearing a seat belt, and Kate Keenan who was sitting on the front seat passenger’s lap, died immediately.

Conor Duffy, who was three and a half times the legal drink driving limit, was uninsured and was under a four year driving ban at the time and had 12 previous convictions including driving without insurance and dangerous driving.

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A urine sample also showed the presence of Alprazolam, cocaine and cannabis in his system and he told gardai he didn’t see the tree and he replied “What warning?” when he was asked about the Red weather alert in place for Storm Isha.

Ahead of finalising the sentencing last Thursday, a letter was read to the court, in which Kate Keenan’s family said they didn’t want the defendant going to jail thinking they all hate him saying “we don’t…we hate what happened” and they think he would swap his place with her “in a heartbeat”.

They said: "We wish it was a different driver so we could hate him". 

They said the pair had a special bond.

“Someday we will forgive you. We know you didn't set out to kill Kate.”

They added they wanted Conor to do his time, stay safe and get home to his family, which they said is what Kate would have wanted.

Judge Dara Hayes thanked Cathy Keenan for bringing a photo of her daughter to court when she gave her victim impact statement and said it showed Kate was more than a name.

He added that the slogan from road safety campaigns over the years that drink driving costs lives can never be said enough.
Judge Hayes said Conor Duffy had "utter disregard" for the law. He had more passengers that the vehicle allowed and he had failed to ensure they were wearing seat belts.

He acknowledged that Conor Duffy had stopped a plea in mitigation and while it was clear he was filled with remorse, a burden he would continue to carry, Judge Hayes said “it was nothing to the burden that would always be carried by the Keenan family who “would always be an empty place in their home and in their hearts”.

He imposed a five and a half year sentence with the final 21 months suspended, for dangerous driving causing death, backdated to November 29th last when he went into custody.

It’s subject to a number of conditions - including Probation Service supervision post release and undertaking a pro social driving programme. 

A 10 year driving ban was also imposed.