Ronan Keating 'devastated' as driver responsible for brother's death avoids prison sentence
The Boyzone singer's brother Ciaran died in a car crash in County Mayo, Ireland while travelling to his son's football match in July 2023.
The man involved in the collision, Dean Harte, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing death and serious injury, and on Wednesday, the 22-year-old was given a 17-month prison sentence suspended for two years and a two-year driving ban.
Responding to the sentence, Keating issued a passionate statement on Instagram on Thursday in which he cast shame on everyone involved in the decision to let Harte avoid prison.
"Today's sentencing was a devastating example of just how broken our justice system is. You can kill a man... and you can walk free," he began. "Not even a single night in prison. Just a slap on the wrist and a ticket to carry on your life, like nothing ever happened."
The Irish singer went on to blast members of the "morally corrupt" justice system for turning "a blind eye" to "this kind of behaviour" on Ireland's roads instead of trying to fix the problem with harsher punishments.
The 47-year-old then called out Harte by name and declared that his family will continue to fight for justice.
"Shame on Dean Harte but more-so shame on everyone involved in this process that contributed to the heartbreaking outcome of my family today. The lord himself knows the injustice that was served and the Keating family will never find peace (sic)," he continued.
"We will continue to fight for Ciaran's justice. At this time we think of all the other families who have found themselves in our position, and we pray that other families never do."
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