Anthony McGinn sentencing explained: Why debs crash driver got seven years
The judge who sentenced fatal debs crash driver Anthony McGinn stated that he was 'bound' to reduce his sentence due to certain mitigating circumstances.
He did however tell the court that he was jailing him at the upper end of the maximum possible sentence for the offence of dangerous driving causing death - which is 10 years.
He was bound by the law to act in those constraints - and could not jail him to any more than that. But the fact that McGinn had pleaded guilty at an early opportunity, coupled with his 'remorse' and lack of convictions, meant the sentence fell to seven years.
With enhanced remission and good behaviour behind bars, McGinn could see himself freed from custody in just under five years.
In most cases where people are killed on our roads in criminal circumstances, gardai opt to charge the offender with dangerous driving causing death - or in more mitigating cases, 'careless' driving causing death.
In rare cases a person has been charged with murder, where gardai believe the evidence shows intent to kill.
Ireland does not have a 'vehicular homicide' charge that exists in some other jurisdictions - often with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
However McGinn faced two charges of dangerous driving causing death, which under the Road Traffic Act 2011, has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
He also faced dangerous driving causing serious injury to Avin Mohamed, who survived the crash.
However as is typical in first time offences, McGinn's three charges were taken together - and he is to serve a concurrent sentence of seven years for each - meaning he only serves seven years as opposed to each one back to back.
He was also banned from driving for a period of 15 years.
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The Irish Sun
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- The Irish Sun
Heartbroken family of Debs crash teen appeal killer driver's seven-year ‘insult' sentence for horror 121kph crash deaths
THE family of Debs crash victim Kiea McCann have confirmed they have appealed the seven-year sentence handed to killer driver Anthony McGinn. Best pals Kiea, 17, and Dlava Mohammed, 16, died when the Advertisement 2 The seven-year sentence handed to killer driver Anthony McGinn is being appealed by one of the victim's family Credit: Pacemaker Press 2 Kiea McCann and Dlava Mohammed died in the crash in Co Monaghan in 2023 Credit: RTE Collect McGinn, 61 - a pal of Kiea's family - offered to chauffeur the teens to their school debs. He had been doing Reckless McGinn was He also admitted to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm - as Dlava's sister Avin, 19, suffered life-altering injuries. Advertisement Read more in News The McCanns blasted the 'pathetic' jail sentence handed to killer driver McGinn, fuming that he was only jailed for seven years while they have lost their daughter for life. They felt the sentence wasn't tough enough and McGinn got off lightly. The grieving family have now confirmed they have written to the Director of Public Prosecutions asking him to appeal the sentence - and to seek a longer jail time for McGinn. Kiea's dad Frankie McCann said they feel they did not get justice. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Exclusive Mr McCann said: 'It is not a sentence of seven years, it's an insult to a family. It is an insult to our family, it's an insult to the Mohameds. 'They don't live in our houses, they don't see the carnage afterwards. Nearly two years has passed now and it is worse today than the day it happened.' Schoolgirl best friends died holding hands in horror crash He confirmed they have asked the DPP to appeal and to seek a harsher sentence for the driver who caused the two heartbreaking deaths. Kiea's sister Michaela slammed the jail sentence after it was handed down, saying: "Seven years? For taking away two precious lives? It's like the justice system is spitting in the face of everything we hold dear. Advertisement 'BLOOD IS BOILING' "How can they put a price on human life and come up with such a pathetic sentence? My blood is boiling. "Every single day, I'm haunted by the thought of my sister and her best friend, their futures stolen, their laughter silenced, all because of one person's reckless actions. "And now, this person gets to walk out in seven years? It's a slap in the face, a cruel joke, and an insult to their memory." She continued: "The anger is consuming. I feel like screaming, like breaking something, anything to release this overwhelming rage. The injustice of it all is unbearable. Advertisement "How can we let someone who committed such a heinous crime get away with a sentence that's barely a slap on the wrist? The thought of him living, breathing, while my sister and her best friend are gone forever is enough to make me lose my mind. 'NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE' "It's a never-ending nightmare, and the justice system has become the villain in my story. "This sentence isn't a betrayal. It's a message that says some lives are worth less than others. It's a devastating blow to my family, who will never be the same. "We are left with a gaping hole in our hearts, a void that can never be filled, while the person responsible gets to continue living. The anger will linger, a constant reminder of the system's failure and the pain we must endure." Advertisement GUILTY PLEA McGinn had pleaded guilty to causing the girls' deaths by dangerous driving and causing Avin serious bodily harm. In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Kiea's mum Teresa told how she 'trusted' McGinn to take her daughter to the leaver's ball. She said: 'When we got to the scene, Kiea was already gone. Her dad tried CPR on her. Nothing would bring her back. 'Kiea and her best friend were robbed of their lives. They were put side by side holding hands on the grass as me and my husband lay beside them.' Advertisement 'SLOW DOWN' Front seat passenger Oisin Clerkin had asked McGinn to 'slow down' but the driver did not respond. Kiea's debs date Oisin, who escaped the smash with non-life threatening injuries, later told cops: 'He was driving really fast and it scared me. 'None of the girls said anything. Kiea looked scared. I said 'Goodbye' to Kiea and I woke up in hospital.'
Extra.ie
25-05-2025
- Extra.ie
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