The Dublin architect whose early release from prison led to the resignation of two senior members of the judiciary will be released from prison this weekend, having served a reduced sentence.
Philip Sheedy was sentenced to four years in prison following an accident at Glenview roundabout, Tallaght, on March 6th, 1996, when his car collided with one driven by Mrs Anne Ryan from Tallaght. She was killed in the accident and her husband, John, and their two children were injured. At the trial in October 1997 Judge Joseph Matthews said he would review the sentence in two years.
However, the case was listed for November 12th, 1998, in the Circuit Court before Judge Cyril Kelly, who lifted the review date and suspended the remainder of the sentence, leading to Sheedy's release.
Concern began to surface in political and legal circles about the case, and it emerged the State had not been told that the case was listed. There were rumours of judicial involvement in the listing.
The Minister decided to ask the Chief Justice to carry out an inquiry in the courts, and his own Department conducted its own inquiry into the role of the courts' administrative officers.
It emerged that, as well as inquiring into Judge Kelly's involvement, the then Chief Justice, Mr Justice Hamilton, would ask his Supreme Court colleague, Mr Justice Hugh O'Flaherty, about his role in the listing of the case.
The DPP also decided to seek a judicial review of the decision to release Sheedy. However, before this could take place Sheedy voluntarily went back to prison.
Meanwhile the inquiries continued, and in April the Chief Justice made his report. It said that Mr Justice Kelly had "compromised the administration of justice" and that Mr Justice O'Flaherty's intervention in inquiring about the listing was "inappropriate and unwise". This led to the resignation of Mr Justice O'Flaherty and Mr Justice Kelly. The Dublin County Registrar, Mr Michael Quinlan, also resigned.
That meant the end of the affair for the judiciary, but not for Sheedy, who was left with a fouryear sentence. While many might think this not inappropriate for dangerous driving causing death, it was the longest sentence imposed for such an offence at that time.
He then went through the normal procedures for seeking a review of his sentence, and in October appealed against the four-year sentence. This was reduced to three years in the Court of Criminal Appeal, and, with the normal allowance for remission, this means he is due for release on Sunday.
Meanwhile the widower of Anne Ryan, Mr John Ryan, took a civil action for damages arising out of the action. That was settled, also last October, for £260,000, thereby bringing to an end one of the longest, and most important, legal sagas in the history of the State.
But this was a human as well as a legal story, and it is not over at a human level. In October Mr Ryan told the court of the continuing anguish suffered by himself and his children, and the Court of Criminal Appeal acknowledged Sheedy's enduring remorse and the serious consequences of the events for him.