Limerick man imprisoned for ‘senseless' killing of ‘much loved uncle and friend’

A MAN who killed a pedestrian in a road crash close to Limerick city centre has been jailed for seven years.

Danny Connors, 30, with an address at Clondrinagh Halting Site drove at speed at Rose’s Avenue pedestrian crossing on the Ennis Road - striking James Forde at 54 km/h in a 50 km zone.

Limerick Circuit Court was told Mr Connors was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he knocked down the “vulnerable road user” at 2pm on November 26, 2024. He was also disqualified from driving at the time of the crime. 

Upon impact, Mr Forde was thrown into the air and hit his head. He died later that evening at University Hospital Limerick.

READ MORE: Limerick car dealer claims gardai were involved in extorting money from him, court hears

Judge Colin Daly heard that Mr Connors did not stop to see if Mr Forde was alright, despite being aware that he hit him with his Ford Focus.

Following the collision, Mr Connors went to his relatives’ house to hide. Upon being confronted by gardaí, he admitted that he hit Mr Forde.

However, he falsely claimed that he had walked out in front of his car - which was contradicted by CCTV footage of the incident.

The judge said Mr Connors caused “a violent and senseless loss of life”.

Delivering his sentence he said: “On behalf of the court I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the family”, and praised the “strength and dignity” of the family, in the face of “grief and loss”.

Judge Daly stated that John Forde was a “dear brother to his nine siblings” and a “much loved uncle and friend”.

The court heard in mitigation that Mr Connors has never applied for bail and has been in custody since his arrest.

He is a father and a husband and one of his children has special needs.

Judge Colin Daly said: “I hope the family take a crumb of comfort” in the crime being dealt with by the courts, however, the judge conceded that no sentence “will bring him [James Forde] back”.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan detailed that Mr Connors has 129 previous convictions - including two for the unauthorised taking of a vehicle, two for drink driving and one for careless driving.

The judge sentenced Mr Connors to a seven and a half year sentence - with the final six months’ suspended to facilitate his rehabilitation.

The sentence was backdated to when Danny Connors first entered custody in November, 2024. He was also disqualified from driving for 15 years after his release from prison.

Mr Connors’ family cried in the courtroom and left the proceedings intermittently.

Sat opposite Mr Connors’ supporters were a group of James Forde’s mourners.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme