Statement from Ronan King
Ronan King expressed his feelings after the driver involved in his brother’s death escaped prison, labeling the verdict as a “heartbreaking result.”
Details of the Tragic Incident
Ciaran Keating, the older brother of former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating, became the victim of a fatal car accident near Swinford, Mayo District, in Ireland, back in July 2023.
The 57-year-old was traveling with his wife Annmari to watch their son Ruir play for Cork City FC in a match against Sligo Rovers.
Annmari, who reportedly sustained non-life-threatening injuries, was unable to attend her husband’s funeral due to her health condition following the accident.
Currently, a 22-year-old man involved in the incident has received a 17-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He has also been banned from driving for two years by Judge Eon Garavan.
Dean Hart from Tyrrellspass in Westmeath was found guilty of careless driving that resulted in death and serious injuries.
Reaction to the Court’s Decision
The court heard that Hart did not adhere to the N5 route between Swinford and Bochola, which is notorious for accidents (RTE). His Audi A3 collided head-on with Keating’s Ford Focus, resulting in Keating’s immediate death.
On February 20, Ronan took to social media, stating: “Today’s sentencing was a striking example of how broken our justice system is.”
“You can kill a man… and walk free. Not even a single night in jail. Just a slap on the wrist and told to continue with life as if nothing happened.”
He continued, “And then we wonder why we continue to see such behavior on our roads, why people keep dying in traffic accidents across Ireland every week? This is a joke, and it is morally corrupt. Instead of trying to fix our broken system, everyone just turns a blind eye.”
“Shame on Dean Hart, but even more shame on everyone involved in this process that contributed to the heartbreaking outcome today for my family. The Lord knows the injustice served here, and the Keating family will never find peace.”
Ronan vowed to continue fighting for justice for Ciaran, adding, “We are thinking of all other families in our position and praying that others never have to go through this.”
Reports indicated that during the tragic incident, no one was speeding. Contributing factors were said to include poor weather and worn tires.
However, the court concluded that inattention was a significant factor leading to the car crossing into the oncoming lane, colliding with Ciarán’s vehicle.
Furthermore, the court heard that a Snapchat message was sent just before the collision, but Hart and his passenger insisted it was sent well before. The judge stated that he could not consider this in the sentencing.
Hart also tested positive for cannabis when taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The judge noted that mitigating factors were considered during sentencing, including Hart’s early plea and acknowledgment of the suffering caused to the victim’s family.
Hart had no prior convictions or drug-related issues.
According to Mirror, Hart’s lawyer John Shortt described the accident as an “absolute tragedy.” He mentioned that Hart had written a letter expressing “genuine remorse,” although the King family rejected this gesture.
In other news, Boyzone is featured in a new three-part documentary titled Boyzone: No Matter What. In the series, their former manager Louis Walsh admits to crafting stories about the group for press attention.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/ronan-keating-responds-after-driver-involved-in-brothers-death-avoids-prison-3839669?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ronan-keating-responds-after-driver-involved-in-brothers-death-avoids-prison
