Ronan Keating blasts ‘broken justice system’ as driver responsible for brother’s death avoids jail: ‘Slap on the wrist’
Former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating has condemned Ireland’s “broken justice system” after the man responsible for his brother’s death avoided jail time.
The singer took to social media to express his outrage after Dean Harte received a suspended sentence for causing the death of Ciaran Keating in a car crash.
Harte was handed a 17-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a two-year driving ban for the fatal collision that occurred in County Mayo.
“Today’s sentencing was a devastating example of just how broken our justice system is,” Keating wrote on Instagram following the court’s decision.
Ciaran Keating was killed in July 2023 whilst travelling to his son’s football match on the N5 at Ballymiles in Mayo, Ireland.
The collision occurred on a stretch of road known locally as an accident black-spot.
The crash resulted in fatal injuries for Ciaran, while his wife Annmarie was also seriously injured in the incident.
Due to her medical condition following the collision, Annmarie was unable to attend her husband’s funeral.
In his social media post, Keating continued: “You can kill a man… and you can walk free. Not even a single night in prison. Just a slap on the wrist and a ticket to carry on your life, like nothing happened.”
The singer criticised the system’s impact on road safety, stating: “And then we wonder why we keep seeing this kind of behaviour on our roads, why people keep dying in road accidents across Ireland every week?”
He described the process as “morally corrupt” and added: “shame on everyone involved in this process that contributed to the heartbreaking outcome for my family today.”
Keating vowed his family “will continue to fight for Ciaran’s justice.”
In court, Harte pleaded guilty to charges of careless driving causing death and serious injury.
His counsel, John Shortt, described the incident as “an absolute tragedy” and noted that the Keating family’s life had been changed forever.
Harte had attempted to express his “genuine remorse” through a letter of apology to the family.
The Keating family rejected this offer of apology.
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The court, presided over by Judge Eoin Garavan, issued the suspended sentence and driving ban following the guilty plea.
In a moving impact statement read to the court by her son Conall, Annmarie Keating expressed her profound grief over the loss of her husband.
“Ciarán was the love of my life and the beat of my heart,” Mrs Keating wrote in her statement.
She added: “I will never get over this and be the same again.”