Family of Roscommon road crash victim (24) 'paying the ultimate price'

A 32-year-old Donegal lorry driver has been sentenced to five years in jail, with the final 12 months suspended, for dangerous driving causing the death of 24-year-old Rian Sheridan in what has been described as “an avoidable tragedy”.

Speaking following the sentencing of Shaun Curran, Middle Dore, Bunbeg County Donegal by Judge Kenneth Connolly at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court this afternoon, Tuesday, the victim’s mother, Maria Sheridan, said her family “are paying the ultimate price” for Mr Curan’s actions.

The court heard that Mr Sheridan of Cluainluáin, Renvyle, County Galway died after a defective tyre on the defendant’s lorry blew out and veered into the path of his car on March 27th, 2024 on the main Roscommon to Athlone road at Newtown, Roscommon.

Last week evidence was given that the front tyre of the lorry was badly worn and unroadworthy. CCTV footage showed that Mr Curran had checked the tyre twice on the date of the collision. It was further stated that the defendant travelled 814 kms on the day, had not taken proper breaks, had four speeding infringements, had changed the driver’s card on the vehicle and had in fact had being using another person’s card at the time of the collision.

Gathering outside the courthouse today, Tuesday, following the sentencing, Mrs Sheridan, supported by family members, stated: "The past 15 months have been the saddest and loneliest time in the lives of our family, Rian's girlfriend, Aine, his close friends and community. Our only son, Rian Sheridan's death on March 27th, 2024 at the age of 24 years was completely avoidable.

"Had the owner and driver of the articulated truck, Shaun Curran, followed safe driving behaviour and acted responsibly as a road user, Rian would be still alive.

"The consequences of his actions have changed our lives forever and devastated our family," she said.

She added: “Professional drivers of commercial trucks have a heightened responsibility to every other road user and pedestrian when they get behind the wheel of a truck.

"These vehicles are capable of causing a higher level of harm should a collision occur whilst at the same time they are better protected given the height of the cab and the structure of the vehicle," she said.

“Shaun Curran drove his artic truck with a defective unroadworthy tyre, used his own and another driver’s tachograph card in addition to exceeding the legal speed limit while the truck and trailer was fully loaded.” 

She also stated that the owners and shareholders of companies who subcontract the delivery of their products to commercial drivers should be concerned that those commercial drivers are not breaking the law, adding increased surveillance and vigorous enforcement of the law is necessary.

"Sentencing must send a stronger message to deter those drivers who break the law, that there is a high price to pay for their actions.

"It will never bring our son back. We are paying the ultimate price for Shaun Curran's dangerous driving," Mrs Sheridan said.

Family solicitor Roger Murray said that there has to be a significant deterrent for people who are in a position of power on the road.

"Drivers of commercial vehicles have a heightened responsibility to other road users and they were the judge’s words and they echoed very much the family sentiments," he said.

"So they hope that the message goes out to those commercial drivers and the users of heavy goods vehicles that they have the height of responsibility to take care and observe the rules of the road."

Circuit Court Ruling

In his ruling, Judge Connolly said Mr Sheridan was blameless for the collision adding: “It is repugnant to the court that the accused persists in his denial of the defective condition” of the tyre. He said the defendant had been travelling at 93 kph at the time of the crash where the permitted maximum speed was 80kph.

He added other aggravating factors, included the tachograph recording and four speeding infringements.

The judge also said there was wilful evasion of rest hours. He said Rian Sheridan’s death was “completely avoidable” and the actions of the accused demonstrated a disregard for the safety of road users.

He stated that the accused made a conscious decision to circumvent regulations and minimised the factors contributing to his dangerous driving.

He imposed a headline sentence of seven years, but took mitigating factors into account in his final ruling. These included that fact that a plea of guilty had been entered at an early stage, and Mr Curran had a good work history and personal circumstances.

He said that there is “some genuine remorse evident” and there was no criminal intent by Mr Curran. However he also stated: “This is something I refuse to call an ‘accident’, given the elements of inevitability for something most awful to occur as a result of the deliberate choices and decisions of the accused.” 

He reduced the headline sentence from seven to five years and suspended the final 12 months and also disqualified Mr Curran from driving for seven years.