More than 1,000 people have taken part in a 'walk for justice' for Joe Drennan this afternoon in Co Laois.
The 21-year-old journalism student from a village close to Mountrath was killed in a hit-and-run incident in October 2023, as he stood at a bus stop near the University of Limerick.
Members of Mr Drennan’s family and the local community marched from St Fintan’s GAA club in Mountrath to the town square, calling on the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal the sentence handed down to the man responsible for the student's death.
The driver of the car Kieran Fogarty, also 21, of Ballinacurra Weston in Limerick city, was jailed at Limerick Circuit Court in January after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Drennan, and failing to offer any assistance to the student as he lay dying under the accused man's car.
The sentence is to run concurrently with an eight-year sentence also imposed on Fogarty for a number of firearms offences, including a drive-by shooting in which he fired a number of shots into a house.
Both crimes were committed while he was on bail and banned from driving.
The family has written to the DPP to review the sentence imposed and have begun a 'Justice for Joe’ campaign, as well as initiating a public petition seeking signatures and support from across the country to try and get the sentence appealed.
"This sentence has to be reconsidered. It's an insult to his memory. This sentence told us that Joe didn't matter. Joe did matter," said Maeve Breslin, a close friend of Mr Drennan for 17 years, told the large crowd this afternoon.
"We'll keep fighting until justice is served," she said.
The DPP does not comment on individual cases but has 28 days in which to lodge an appeal to the Court of Appeal to review a sentence, and up to a maximum of 56 days if more time is warranted.
A victim and a family member of a victim is entitled to write to the DPP requesting such a review.
Mr Drennan's sister Sarah said she wants to make sure what happened to her little brother never happens again.
She said she wants to "fight for a justice system that truly delivers justice".
"While we can’t bring him back, we can honour him by making sure no other family goes through what we went through" she said.
