2 weeks Ago By Stephen Breen
A KILLER driver who caused the death of a young woman in 2008 has failed in a fresh bid to get back on the roads. Brian Kelly asked for his licence back at Portlaoise Circuit Court earlier this month. Claire Hennessy, 24, was a passenger in a Honda Civic driven by Kelly, 43, when it crashed into the side of a property in Rossleaghan, Portlaoise, Co Laois , on October 18, 2008.
And in the months after Claire’s death, her heartbroken boyfriend Kevin took his own life. Kelly was convicted of dangerous driving causing death and got a two-year suspended sentence. He was also hit with a lifetime driving ban, later cut to 20 years.
Despite the reduction, Kelly applied for his licence to be reinstated as he had been off the road for 16 years. But his latest attempt to have his licence returned was rejected by Judge Keenan Johnson at Portlaoise Circuit Court . The judge’s decision was welcomed by Claire’s sister Yvonne.
She told us: “I am very happy with the result of the hearing. I am delighted that Brian Kelly’s brazen attempt to suit himself did not go in his favour today. “While the Gardai and the RSA are trying to reduce road traffic deaths, there should be more focus on sentencing and deterring the offenders in the first place.
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