Teen charged with dangerous driving causing death of Limerick nurse faces further charges


Keelan O'Connell, 19, was charged with a number of offences in March including dangerous driving causing the death of Aine O’Reilly, 33
A TEENAGER charged with dangerous driving causing the death of a Limerick nurse has been charged with further offences at Limerick District Court this week.
Keelan O’Connell, aged 19, of Scanlon Park, Castleconnell appeared before Judge Patricia Harney on Tuesday afternoon.
He was charged with a number of offences in March including dangerous driving causing the death of Áine O’Reilly, aged 33, at N24, Grange West, Boher, County Limerick, on Friday, February 13, 2026. Mr O’Connell was refused bail and has been remanded in custody since March.
On Tuesday, Garda Tony Burke, of Henry Street Garda Station, gave evidence in court of the arrest, charge and caution of Mr O’Connell, on foot of the new charges.
The accused was charged with failing to offer assistance to Ms O’Reilly, failing to report the collision to gardai, and failing to offer assistance and "did so with the intent to escape civil or criminal liability".
The three new charges are contrary to Section 106 (1) of the Road Traffic Act.
Solicitor Sarah Ryan, representing Mr O’Connell, said her client is not applying for bail.
The man is due to appear before Limerick District Court in June.
Mr O’Connell was silent throughout the brief procedural matter.
Last March, Mr O’Connell was charged with dangerous driving causing death, driving without a driver’s licence, and, driving without insurance at the same location on the same date.
Garda Burke gave evidence that he arrested Mr O’Connell at his home, at 7.42am on Thursday, March 19.
Garda Burke said after he charged and cautioned Mr O’Connell at 6.06pm on Thursday evening, the accused “made no reply”.
Objecting to bail at that time, Garda Burke alleged that on the night in question Mr O’Connell was driving a black 2007 VW Golf with “excess speed” and he attempted a “dangerous manoeuver”, to undertake a Peugeot car.
Garda Burke alleged Mr O’Connell’s VW Golf collided with the Peugeot forcing the Peugeot into a collision with a Nissan Micra car, which was being driven by Ms O’Reilly.
Garda Burke told the court Ms O’Reilly, who was on her way to work at Shannondoc, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme