The mother of a 24-year-old Galwayman killed in a road collision has said her family is “paying the ultimate price” for the actions of a Donegal lorry driver whose dangerous driving led to her son’s death.
Maria Sheridan, speaking outside Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday, delivered an emotional statement following the sentencing of 32-year-old Shaun Curran. Curran, from Middle Dore, Bunbeg, Co Donegal, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for dangerous driving causing the death of her son, Rian Sheridan from Renvyle.
Ms Sheridan described the past 15 months since Rian’s death as the “saddest and loneliest” time of their lives. Surrounded by family, she paid tribute to her only son and expressed deep frustration and grief over what she called a “completely avoidable” tragedy.
“Our only son, Rian Sheridan’s death on March 27th, 2024, at the age of 24 years, was completely avoidable,” she said. “Had the owner and driver of the articulated truck, Shaun Curran, followed safe driving behaviour and acted responsibly as a road user, Rian would be still alive.”
She condemned Curran’s conduct on the day of the crash and his disregard for basic road safety, noting that he had a professional obligation to protect other road users.
“Professional commercial truck drivers have a heightened responsibility,” she said. “These vehicles are capable of causing a higher level of harm should a collision occur. At the same time, drivers are better protected, given the height of the cab and the structure of the vehicle. Shaun Curran drove his artic truck with a defective, unroadworthy tyre, used his own and another driver’s tachograph card, and exceeded the legal speed limit while fully loaded.”
Ms Sheridan added that sentencing must reflect the seriousness of such offences and serve as a deterrent to others.
“It will never bring our son back,” she said. “We are paying the ultimate price for Shaun Curran’s dangerous driving.”
The collision that claimed Rian Sheridan’s life occurred in Newtown, Co Roscommon. The court heard that a defective front tyre on Curran’s lorry blew out, causing the vehicle to veer into the path of Rian’s car. CCTV footage confirmed that Curran had examined the tyre twice on the same day, yet continued to drive the vehicle.
Additional evidence revealed that Curran had driven 814km on the day of the incident without taking required rest breaks. He also had four speeding infringements, was travelling at 93km/h in an 80km/h zone, and had deliberately used another driver’s tachograph card in breach of road safety laws.
In his judgment, Judge Kenneth Connolly said Rian Sheridan bore no responsibility for the crash. He criticised Curran for continuing to deny that the tyre was defective, describing the driver’s conduct as a “wilful evasion” of rest and safety regulations.
“This is something I refuse to call an accident,” Judge Connolly said. “There was an element of inevitability for something most awful to occur as a result of the deliberate choices and decisions of the accused.”
While Curran pleaded guilty and had no prior criminal convictions, the judge said these mitigating factors did not erase the seriousness of the offence. He imposed a seven-year sentence, reducing it to five years with the final 12 months suspended. Curran was also disqualified from driving for seven years.
Judge Connolly said the court found “some genuine remorse” but noted that Curran’s actions showed a reckless disregard for the safety of others.
Rian Sheridan, originally from Renvyle, Co Galway, was remembered by his family as a beloved son, partner, and friend whose life was cut short due to what his mother described as “entirely preventable negligence.”
