Ronan Keating responds after driver involved in brother’s death avoids prison

nme.com:

Ronan Keating has issued a statement after the driver involved in his brother’s death avoided prison, calling the verdict a “heartbreaking outcome”.Ciaran Keating, the oldest brother of the former Boyzone singer, was named as the victim of a fatal car crash near Swinford, County Mayo in Ireland in July 2023.The 57-year-old was travelling with his wife Annmarie to watch their son Ruairí play for Cork City FC in a match against the Sligo Rovers.Annmarie, who reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was unable to attend her husband’s funeral because of her medical condition following the crash.Now, a 22-year-old man involved in the collision has been handed a 17-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He has also been banned from driving for two years by Judge Eoin Garavan.Dean Harte, from Tyrrellspass in Westmeath, had been charged with careless driving causing death and serious injury and pleaded guilty.A post shared by Ronan Keating (@rokeating)The court heard how Harte failed to take a bend on a stretch of the N5 between Swinford and Bohola, which is known as an accident black spot (via RTE).

His Audi A3 collided headlong with Keating’s Ford Focus, and the latter died at the scene.Ronan has shared a statement on social media today (February 20) in response to the verdict, writing: “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.