Drunk driver who killed a child in Portarlington has sentence reduced

A drunk driver jailed for dangerous driving causing the death of a four-year-old boy from Portarlington has succeeded in his appeal on the length of his sentence reduced by two years.

The appeal court reduces sentence on Finbarr O'Rourke for dangerous driving causing death of Ciarán Treacy from 7.5 yrs to 8 with 2 suspended. It means is sentence is now 6 years.

During the appeal his legal team argued that he was sentenced “as an example” to the wider community “rather than an individual”.

O’Rourke (41), of Laurel Drive, Portlaoise, Co Laois, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Ciarán Treacy at Ballymorris, Portarlington on April 17th, 2014. Gillian Treacy, Ciarán’s mum was also severely injured as a result of the incident.

Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced O’Rourke to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court on November 3, 2015.

O’Rourke’s barrister, Conor Devally SC, claimed that the penalty was too high and as the sentencing judge was "so moved by this case” and wanted to set an example.

The appeal court heard that O’Rourke has turned his personal life around and shown interest in making himself available to the likes of the Road Safety Authority.