Ronan Keating and his family have hit out after a man escaped a prison sentence in the Republic of Ireland for causing the death of the star’s older brother in a crash.

The singer’s brother Ciaran died in a car crash in July 2023 as he travelled with his wife to watch their son play football.

Dean Harte, 22, was given a 17-month suspended sentence for a period of two years at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday.

Ciaran, who was in his 50s and from Louisburgh, Ireland, suffered fatal injuries as he was travelling at around 3.35pm with his wife on the N5 near Swinford, Co Mayo, on a stretch of road known as a black-spot for accidents.

Ronan took to Instagram on Thursday and posted: ‘Today’s sentencing was a devastating example of just how broken our justice system is.

‘You can kill a man… and you can walk free. Not even a single night in prison. Just a slap on the wrist and a ticket to carry on with your life, like nothing ever happened.

Ronan Keating and his family have hit out after a man escaped a prison sentence for causing the death of the star’s older brother Ciaran (seen far left) in a crash

The singer’s brother Ciaran died in a car crash in July 2023 as he travelled with his wife to watch their son play football (the family are pictured at his funeral)

Dean Harte, 22, was given a 17-month suspended sentence for a period of two years at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday (pictured arriving at court)

‘And then we wonder why we keep seeing this kind of behaviour on our roads, why people keep dying in road accidents across Ireland every week?

‘it’s a joke and it’s morally corrupt that rather than trying to fix our broken system, they all turn a blind eye.’

He continued: ‘Shame on Dean Harte but more-so shame on everyone involved in this process that contributed to the heartbreaking outcome for my family today.

‘The Lord himself knows the injustic that was served and the Keating family will never find peace.

‘We will continue to fight for Ciaran’s justice. At this time we think of all the other families who have found themselves in our position, and we pray that other families never do.’

Dean was travelling with a work colleague to Westport when his Audi A3 veered onto the wrong side of road and smashed head on with Ciaran’s Ford Focus.

He died at the scene, at Ballymiles between Swinford and Bohola.

Ciaran was going to see son Ruairí play an Irish Premier League match.

Ronan took to Instagram on Thursday to share a lengthy statement, saying his family will ‘never find peace’ after Dean received a suspended sentence

Ciaran Keating (second from left), was in his 50s and from Louisburgh, Ireland. Pictured: The Keating family including Ronan (second from right), his father Gerry (centre) and sister Linda (third from left)

Ciaran suffered fatal injuries as he was travelling at around 3.35pm with his wife on the N5 near Swinford, Co Mayo, on a stretch of road known as a black-spot for accidents

Ciaran’s son Ruairí started the match for Cork against Sligo Rovers, but was taken off at halftime.

The crash came 24 hours before Ruairí’s 28th birthday. The forward has played for Irish teams Sligo Rovers and Galway United as well as English side Torquay United.

In a statement Cork City FC said: ‘All at Cork City FC are deeply saddened at the passing of Ciaran Keating, father of our player Ruairí Keating.

‘We extend our deepest sympathies to Ruairí and the entire Keating family at this exceptionally difficult time. May he rest in peace.

‘We ask that the family’s privacy be respected at this difficult time. Funeral arrangements will be confirmed in due course.’

Ciaran is believed to have worked as a car salesman and previously ran a bar.

Councillor John O’Malley offered his condolences and said: ‘Everyone is shocked and saddened by the awful news.

‘He was highly regarded by all who knew him here and we are thinking of his wife and children and his extended family.’

The League of Ireland also expressed its condolences to the Keating family.

A tweet said: ‘The League of Ireland is deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Ruairi Keating’s father Ciaran.

‘We would like to send our condolences to Ruairi and his family and all at @CorkCityFC at this very difficult time.’

Ciaran’s wife, who was in the front seat of the car during the crash, was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries and was unable to attend his funeral due to her condition.

Dean pleaded guilty after being charged with careless driving causing death and serious injury.

Alongside his suspended sentence, he was also banned from driving for two years by Judge Eoin Garavan.

Before imposing sentence, Judge Garavan said there was no evidence of intoxication, no speed issues and ‘no egregious example of earlier dangerous driving’.

While the court heard there had been no evidence of phone activity on Dean’s part at the time of the crash, he had dispatched a WhatsApp message a short time earlier.

Evidence was also given that showed there were trace elements of cannabis in the driver’s blood.

Dean told Irish police at the time that he had consumed cannabis at a party a couple of nights before.

His counsel described the accident as ‘an absolute tragedy’ and said the life of the Keating family had been changed forever.

Ciaran was going to see son Ruairí play an Irish Premier League match when the crash occurred

He said it can be difficult for the bereaved to accept an apology but a letter from Harte expressing genuine remorse had been offered but, perhaps understandable, had been been rejected.

Impact statements on behalf of Ciaran’s wife and her family were read out at the hearing by son, Conall.

She wrote: ‘Ciaran was the love of my life and the beat of my heart. I will never get over this and be the same again.’

She said the sadness of Ciaran’s passing will never go away, adding: ‘Our once happy home is now a place of desolation.’

At the time of the fatal crash, the couple were on their way to Sligo to watch their son, Ruairi, play for Cork City in a league match against Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds.

Conall, who brought a photo his late father with him to the witness box, told Dean his actions had left the extended Keating family devastated and that his crime was ‘appalling and incomprehensible’.

He also made it clear that the Keating family would never accept a letter of apology offered by Dean.

Sons Conall and Ruari, and Ciaran’s brother Gary were amongst family members who gathered on the steps of Castlebar Courthouse after the sentencing hearing had concluded.

Reading a statement from his phone, he stated: ‘Today’s sentencing was a devastating example of how broken our justice system is.

‘He (Harte) sent a message from his phone while driving at 15:33 pm, the first 999 call was 15:37.

‘There’s a serious problem with young men and driving in this country and being on the phone while driving.

‘You can kill a man and walk free, not even a single night in prison, just a slap on the wrist and a ticket to carry on with your life, like nothing ever happened.

‘And then we wonder why we keep seeing this kind of behaviour on our roads – people dying in road accidents across Ireland every week. It’s a joke.

‘Shame on Dean Harte, but more so shame on everyone involved in this process who contributed to the heartbreaking outcome for my family today.’