Drunk driver who got suspended sentence for dangerous driving causing death jailed for three years by appeal court

A civil engineer from Kingscourt, County Cavan, has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Court of Criminal Appeal for dangerous driving causing death. Ronan Cunningham, aged 30, had pleaded guilty to causing the death of Emanuel Mendez on the N7 Naas dual carriageway in October 2010 whilst driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. The original five-year suspended sentence imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2012 was deemed unduly lenient and was overturned on appeal. Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, presiding, described Cunningham's driving—travelling seven kilometres in the wrong direction after consuming approximately eight pints—as "hideous". The court also imposed a 15-year driving ban. Cunningham was afforded one week to arrange his personal affairs before commencing his sentence.