WATCH: 'Disgusting': Joe Drennan's sister reacts to sentence handed down to Laois student's killer

The sister of Laois student Joe Drennan, who was killed by a Limerick criminal in a fatal collision, has said the sentence handed down today is "disgusting". 

Criminal gang member Kieran Fogarty has been jailed for a total of eight years. 

Fogarty, aged 21, of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston was before Limerick Criminal Circuit Court for judgement for four offences - dangerous driving causing death, shooting at a house, violent disorder and having drugs for sale and supply.

The offences on separate dates occurred over a six-month period in 2023.

Speaking outside the court after the sentence was handed down, Mr Drennan's sister Sarah described the sentence as "disgusting" and they feel "very hard done by".

"It is really, really hard to take. He was everything to us," she said.

Mr Drennan's other sister Marie said "the legal system needs to be looked at properly".

The judge imposed a six and half year jail sentence for dangerous driving causing the death of Joe Drennan. A concurrent eight year jail sentence was handed down for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

A two-year jail sentence for violent disorder is to be served concurrently. Jail terms of three years for having cocaine for sale or supply, two years of having MDMA for sale or supply, and one and half years for possession of alprazolam are also to be served concurrently.

The total of eight years imprisonment was backdated to October 23, 2023, when Fogarty first entered custody.

Judge Colin Daly said the contrast between Fogarty and Mr Drennan was "stark".

"Fogarty was 19 at the time, Mr Drennan was 21. One was already embroiled in a life of crime while the other was a hard-working student and beloved son and brother," said Judge Daly.

Mr Drennan, aged 21, of Knocknagad, Camross was an award-winning fourth-year journalism student in University of Limerick, and editor-in-chief of the Limerick Voice publication. He wanted to “make the world a better place”.

At the beginning of proceedings, Judge Daly expressed his sympathies to the Drennan family on behalf of the court.

The judge said Fogarty "ran away" after causing catastrophic injuries to Mr Drennan after losing control of the BMW he was driving. He was on bail and disqualified from driving at the time.

Judge Daly said it was a "violent and senseless loss of life".

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The judge said Fogarty will spend the best years of his life in prison but will still be a relatively young man when he is released from prison.

"Mr Drennan will never get that experience," said Judge Daly.

The State was represented by prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, and investigating gardai - Inspector Padraigh Sutton and Detective Garda Shane O’Neill.