Nothing can bring Joe back, but this acknowledges that his life mattered

A GANGLAND criminal who caused the death of a 21-year-old student in a notorious hit-and-run case will now serve an extra five years in prison after the Court of Appeal ruled that his original eight-year jail sentence was unduly lenient.

- BY RYAN DUNNE

In resentencing Kieran Fogarty, 21, to a total of 14 years with the final year suspended, Ms Justice Tara Burns noted the serious impact his actions had on the family of Joe Drennan.

She described the victim as "an exceptional young man with a promising career ahead of him", whose death had a devastating effect on his parents and siblings.

Speaking outside the court after the sentence was imposed, Mr Drennan’s sister Sarah said this decision will finally "get some measure of justice for Joe".

"Nothing can ever bring him back, but this acknowledges that his life mattered, that what happened to him was not an accident or mistake but a deliberate act of reckless and criminal behaviour," she said.

She described Joe as a "kind, funny, compassionate" man who was missed every single day by the family.

She said the court's decision will now bring them a "small sense of peace".