Exclusive

LIVES DEVASTATED

Dangerous driver in ‘selfish’ license appeal after killing woman in crash as family reveal hell & blast ‘no remorse’

Yvonne told how Claire’s boyfriend Kevin later took his life as he struggled with her death

• Stephen Breen, Crime Editor

• Published: 7:00, 10 Jun 2024

• Published: Invalid Date,

A WOMAN told of her family’s hell after the driver who caused the death of her sister appealed for his licence back — without saying sorry.

Claire Hennessy, 24, was a passenger in a Honda Civic driven by Brian Kelly, 42, when it crashed into the side of a property at Rossleaghan, Portlaoise, on October 18, 2008.

Kelly was convicted of dangerous driving causing her death and had a two-year suspended sentence and a lifetime driving ban in 2009.

But 16 years after Claire lost her life, he will appear before the Court of Criminal Appeal next month in a bid to have his licence returned.

Before his case gets underway, Claire’s family also met with the Director of Public Prosecutions to voice their concerns.

In her first interview since the tragedy, Claire’s sister Yvonne told of her family’s ongoing trauma.She said: “When Claire was killed horrifically by the irresponsible driving and actions of Brian Kelly my world — and the world of all our family and friends — was turned inside out and upside down. It’s since been a continuous hell.

“Kelly has shown no remorse. He’s never made contact with our family. We’ve never received a letter or been asked to hear from him through any other means. Asking for a driving license is selfish. There’s no remorse because there’s no compassion. Claire died because of his actions.

“The ripples of his actions have altered forever the lives of my immediate family. Further to that, my extended family are not and will never be OK. My grandmother died heartbroken. Claire’s friends are not alright. They can barely ever talk to me when I still meet them.

“The multiple lives that have been devastated by Kelly crashing his car into a residential building so fast that it exploded the kitchen units on the other side of the concrete wall aren’t ever going to be consoled or freed from the pain nightmares.KRW’s Christopher Stanley said: “It’s clear from documents available to us that there remain significant questions concerning the death. Inquest law in Ireland has been amended to reflect developments in other Common Law jurisdictions and from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

“The application of these amendments could lead to a fresh inquest being directed by the Attorney General which would allow for an examination of all the circumstances surrounding the death, the actions of the driver, witnesses to the accident and the immediate Garda investigation.”