Overview
- Sean Connaughton, 55, was sentenced Tuesday at Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court to five years in prison with the final 12 months suspended and a 15-year driving ban.
- He admitted dangerous driving causing the death of Laura Connolly, failing to remain at the scene, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence.
- Judge John Aylmer cited speeding at 73 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, texting at the time, ignoring warning signals, driving while disqualified and uninsured, and leaving the scene as aggravating factors.
- Garda evidence included phone records showing calls and texts around the collision and DNA from Connolly found in Connaughton’s Citroën Berlingo, after which he presented himself to police the next morning.
- Outside court, Connolly’s mother said the outcome was not justice and described the family’s ongoing grief for the 34-year-old mother who had been planning her wedding.