Kilkenny man who stole car and died in crash was on drugs at time

A Kilkenny man who died in a collision after he stole a car, with a young person in the rear of the vehicle, had a significant amount of drugs and drink in his system at the time he crashed it.

Dale Fogarty from Castlecomer stole the car, which had a young person inside the vehicle at the time, from Green Street in Kilkenny City on November 18, 2022 and drove it at speed overtaking several vehicles before crashing close to the Dinan Bridge on the N77 between Kilkenny and Ballyragget. Fogarty was driving on the wrong side of the road, going around a bend,  when he was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle causing serious injuries to the third occupants of the car.

The 16-year girl, who was in the car being driven by Fogarty, suffered life-changing injuries in the collision. 

The inquest of Dale Fogarty took place at Kilkenny courthouse on Friday. A toxicology report showed that Dale Fogarty has multiple drugs in his system at the time of his death including morphine, diazepene, methadone and a very high level of alcohol.

An inspection of both vehicles showed that there were no mechanical defects present. 

Coroner Tim Kiely offered his condolences to Fogarty's family and said that Fogarty's death was 'very avoidable'. but that there was nothing that could have spotted it unless Fogarty was more responsible. Mr Kiely also offered his best wishes to the young girl and her family and to the occupants of the other car.