Vigil for Journalism student Joe Drennan

#Justice for Joe

Taken from: Gathering in Solidarity for #JusticeForJoe – Limerick Voice Invites the Community - LIMERICK VOICE

Limerick Voice Stands in Solidarity with the Family of Joe Drennan

Limerick Voice – UL journalism department’s student news platform – is inviting the Limerick community to stand with the Limerick Voice in demanding justice for Joe Drennan following the sentencing hearing into his death last week.

The Limerick Voice editorial team where Joe was Editor in Chief, have organised a vigil and show of solidarity to support the family’s call for the sentence imposed on his killer to be appealed.

Joe's parents Marguerite and Tim Drennan  will travel to Limerick for the event, which will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 1:30 PM on the Main Plaza in UL.

The Limerick Voice team invites all students, staff, and members of the wider community to join us in expressing solidarity with Joe’s family during this difficult time.

Joe Drennan, a UL journalism student and former Limerick Voice editor, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run in October 2023.

Last Thursday, Kieran Fogarty of Hyde Avenue Limerick, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing Joe Drennan's death was sentenced to six and a half years. He was also jailed for eight years for firearm offences, with both sentences to be served concurrently.

Joe’s family has publicly expressed their disappointment with the verdict. His father, Tim Drennan, said after the hearing:

"He (Fogarty) got eight years for shooting into a wall, and he got six and a half years for Joe, all to be served concurrently. He’s going to be serving the one for shooting into the wall all the time. He’s not going to be serving anything for Joe."

The Drennan family hopes the Director of Public Prosecutions will appeal the sentence. They launched a campaign promoting the appeal under the hashtag #JusticeForJoe.

Speaking about the Justice for Joe Campaign, Jack McKay, Limerick Voice  Managing editor 2025,  said:

“We want to show our solidarity with the Drennan Family and help and raise awareness for their campaign for justice.

Joe was a journalist with a keen sense of justice and saw journalism as a conduit in raising awareness and campaigning for justice.”

For more information please contact: thelimerickvoice@gmail.com or Jack McKay, Managing Editor Limerick Voice: (083) 1856014