Search

08 Sept 2025

Plumber, 28, pleads guilty to careless driving killing GAA coach and dad-of-two

Mr Gunning was a passenger in the 13-2 registered vehicle that Mr Smyth was driving at the time

Plumber, 28, pleads guilty to careless driving killing GAA coach and dad-of-two

Ennis court

Reporter:

Gordon Deegan

17 Jul 2024 5:08 PM

A 28-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the careless driving causing the death of married father-of-two and GAA coach, Gerard Gunning.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Joseph Smyth of Cathedral Court, Ennis has pleaded guilty to the careless driving causing the death of Broadford man, Gerard Gunning at Meelick on March, 24, 2022.
Mr Gunning was a passenger in the 13-2 registered vehicle that Mr Smyth was driving at the time.
An apprentice plumber when first charged, Mr Smyth was sent forward from the district court to the circuit court where he was initially charged with the dangerous driving causing death of Mr Gunning.
However, Mr Smyth has now pleaded guilty to the less serious careless driving charge of driving without due care and attention and thereby causing the death of Gerard Gunning.
After Mr Smyth entered his guilty plea, counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly SC ( instructed by State Solicitor, Aisling Casey) said that the case now becomes one of sentence and a victim impact statement is required.
Judge Francis Comerford said that he would prioritise the sentencing hearing in the case.
He said: “Where someone has lost a life as a result of an offence, there are serious matters and I will prioritise this matter as soon as I can.”
Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to July 26 to fix dates with the sentencing date likely to be in October. Judge Gabbett remanded Mr Smyth on continuing bail and excused him from attending the procedural hearing on July 26.
Those convicted of careless driving causing death in the circuit court can face prison terms up to two years compared to prison terms up to 10 years for those convicted of dangerous driving.  
Mr Gunning (47) of Kilbane, Broadford is survived by his wife, Jennifer and sons, Dillon and Adam.
In a tribute posted by Broadford GAA club in the aftermath of Mr Gunning’s death, the club said it mourned the tragic passing of its former underage player and current coach.
The club stated that Ger played to minor level for Broadford, winning U14 and U15 championships with the club and in later years, Ger became very involved in underage coaching and training in Broadford and was a very popular coach among the players of the club’s U11 and U13 teams.

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!

Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.

Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Most Popular

Sponsored Content

Multimedia

We've got Donegal Covered...

Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie

Buy a paper

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Buy Now
Get the news

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.

Register Here
Iconic Media is Ireland's largest independently owned regional newspaper and media group, with an unrivalled audience in print, online and mobile. We have 19 regional newspapers and 21 digital sites.

Iconic Digital Titles

  • Carlow Live
  • Clare Live
  • Derry Now
  • Donegal Live
  • Éire Bheo
  • Inish Live
  • Ireland Live
  • Kildare Live
  • Kildare Now
  • Kilkenny Live
  • Laois Live
  • Leitrim Live
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Live
  • Longford Live
  • Louth Live
  • Mayo Live
  • Nenagh Live
  • Offaly Live
  • Tipperary Live
  • Waterford Live

    • Iconic Print Titles

  • Clonmel Nationalist
  • County Derry Post
  • Derry News
  • Donegal Democrat
  • Donegal Post
  • Dundalk Democrat
  • Homes in Donegal
  • Inish Times
  • Kilkenny People
  • Leinster Express
  • Leinster Leader
  • Leitrim Observer
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Leader
  • Longford Leader
  • Mayo News
  • Midland Tribune
  • Tipperary Star
  • Tullamore Tribune

    • This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.

    © 2025 Iconic Media