Laois community to host gathering to continue fight for justice for student Joe Drennan

The Camross community has invited people along to a public gathering to continue their support for the family of Joe Drennan who are seeking reform on consecutive sentencing laws in Ireland after the young journalism student was killed in a hit-and-run in 2023. 

It follows a walk in Mountrath on Sunday where huge numbers turned out to stand in solidarity with the Drennan family. 

The sentencing of Kieran Fogarty, who was jailed for six and a half years for the hit-and-run in Limerick City, has caused major controversy across the country as Fogarty's sentence will run concurrently with an eight year sentence imposed on him for an unrelated offence of discharging a firearm in a drive-by shooting. 

This means that Fogarty will not face any extra time in prison for killing the young Laois man. In response to the ruling, the Drennan family has launched a social media campaign #JusticeForJoe which calls for the sentence to be appealed and for Fogarty to serve his sentence consecutively to his existing eight year sentence. 

The family has also created an online petition to reform consecutive sentencing laws for crimes involving loss of life. Members of the public have been invited to lend their support for the campaign through signing the petition. So far, it has received 10,988 signatures, with the goal being 15,000. 

The gathering will take place in Camross Village at 12pm on Sunday, 16 February and all are welcome to attend to show their support for the cause. 

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