DEBS crash victim Dlava Mohamed’s sister has blasted the suspended sentence handed down to a reckless Romanian driver who hit speeds of more than 150kph in the lead-up to the fatal smash.
Best pals Dlava, 16, and Kiea McCann, 17, died when the car they were in struck a tree near their home town of Clones, Co Monaghan in July 2023.
Killer driver Anthony McGinn, a friend of Kiea’s family who had offered to drive the two teenagers to their school party, was recently sentenced to seven years in jail.
A court heard McGinn, 61, had been doing 151kph in an 80kph zone when he lost control of his BMW and slammed into a tree at 121kph.
Debs chauffeur McGinn was jailed at Monaghan Circuit Court last month after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death.
Heartbreaking victim impact statements revealed how Kiea and Dlava died “holding hands” after McGinn ignored pleas to slow down.
He also admitted to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm as Dlava’s sister Avin, 19, suffered life-altering injuries.
The Debs victims’ families were left reeling by the seven-year term handed down to McGinn, with Kiea’s family branding it “pathetic”.
Now grieving relatives say they have suffered fresh trauma after another driver who sped behind McGinn prior to the fatal collision received a suspended sentence this week.
Alin Sorin Gatea, 46, appeared at a sitting of Monaghan District Court on Monday on multiple counts of dangerous driving on the day of the Debs crash.
Gatea, of Carn Heights, Clones, Co Monaghan, faced five counts of dangerous driving at various locations between Clones and Monaghan on July 31, 2023.
One of the counts related to a charge at Legnakelly, just outside Clones, where Dlava and Kiea lost their lives in the crash en route to their Debs ball in the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan town.
Monaghan District Court heard father-of-four Gatea hit speeds of more than 150kph in his BMW as it followed McGinn’s BMW.
On Monday, Judge Raymond Finnegan gave Gatea an 18-month suspended prison sentence and disqualified the factory worker from driving for four years.
Reacting to the sentence, Dlava’s sister Lilav tonight called for tougher sentences for speeding drivers in a bid to reduce fatalities on our roads.
‘THERE HAS TO BE CONSEQUENCES’
Lilav, 23, told the Irish Sun: “It is only a suspended sentence. There has to be consequences.
“I’m so confused. Where is the punishment? There has to be a deterrent.
“Maybe more people should die for something to happen?
“The sentence should be stronger to send out a strong message. What about the young people, what does it say to them about speeding?
“There definitely has to be stronger consequences.”
FAMILY DEVASTATED
Emotional Lilav told how the Mohamed clan came to Ireland from war-torn Syria to build their dreams.
But with their lives shattered by the road traffic tragedy, Dlava’s heartbroken family want lessons to be learned from their devastating loss.
Opening up on their pain, anguished Lilav told the Irish Sun: “It’s hard to say how we’re coping with it. Of course nothing is the same.
“There have been huge changes in our lives, definitely. So there should be huge changes for people speeding so dangerously and recklessly.
‘THERE IS ANGER’
“That man (Gatea) got a suspended sentence. What does that say to young people? If they see this kind of news, they’re going to be like we’re going to be fine if we cross the speed or anything.
“He (Gatea) was speeding like the other man (McGinn). Both of them are adults.
“There is anger, definitely. I want my message to be heard. There should be strong sentences, it could act as a deterrent, it could help save lives.”
Monaghan District Court heard Gatea drove at speeds of more than 150kph in his BMW as it followed McGinn’s BMW on a wet road.
HIGH SPEEDS
Dad Gatea had two passengers in his vehicle, his son, who was 19 at the time, and another teenager, who was 18 at the time.
He was driving both of them to the Debs ball at the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan on the evening of July 31, 2023.
The court heard the Romanian travelled at high speeds behind McGinn’s BMW prior to the fatal collision.
Inspector Ann-Marie Lardner revealed that following forensics of Gatea’s dash cam footage, investigators confirmed the Romanian national was travelling at a minimum speed of 145kph and a maximum speed of 151kph at the time.
“I’m so confused. Where is the punishment? There has to be a deterrent.”
Lilav Mohamed
Insp Lardner told Judge Finnegan that these speeds were almost double the speed limit.
Defence solicitor, Catherine Taaffe, insisted that there had been “no joint enterprise” or suggestion that her client had been acting in concert with the other car.
Ms Taaffe revealed the dash cam footage shown in court was voluntarily supplied by Gatea after he witnessed a serious event ahead of him.
Ms Taaffe pointed out that Gatea’s dash cam helped the state in bringing someone to justice for a much more serious crime.
ANGRY REACTION
And the defence solicitor highlighted how the charges before the court were for speeding, saying they had no bearing on the serious fatal collision that occurred that evening.
The court was also told that Gatea had shown good levels of cooperation during the investigation.
Members of Kiea’s family, who attended the sentencing hearing, reacted angrily when it was put to Judge Finnegan there had been no indication of any racing element being involved.
‘KARMA WILL COME TO YOU’
Asked by the judge if the McCann family believed the drivers were racing, Garda Inspector Lardner told the court “yes they do”.
The McCann family tonight joined the Mohamed clan in blasting the sentence given to Gatea.
Kiea’s dad Frankie stormed: “Karma will come to you and Anthony.”
Kiea’s mum Teresa branded both Gatea and McGinn a total disgrace.
Teresa rapped: “Terrible the way the country is run.
‘TWO GIRLS’ LIVES GONE’
“My child Kiea’s life and friend Dlava’s life taken. . . and this is the outcome of it. Two girls’ lives gone.
Handing down sentence, Judge Finnegan slammed the way Gatea drove, insisting he clearly put passengers in the car and his own life at risk that day.
But the judge explained the DPP had directed him over the dangerous driving charges and that he can only act on the counts before him.
Judge Finnegan issued three six month suspended sentences and disqualified Gatea from driving for four years.
