74 y.o. taxi driver to plead guilty to charges over fatal Cork hit-and-run

[watty]

Taxi driver to plead guilty to charges over fatal Cork hit-and-run (Irish Times)

A 74 year old taxi driver will be pleading guilty to four charges arising out of a a fatal hit and run in which a consultant psychiatrist died, lawyers for the accused told a court on Monday.

Denis McSweeney from Pouladuff Road, Ballyphehane in Cork is charged with four charges relating to a road traffic collision which claimed the life of consultant psychiatrist, Dr Martin Lawlor (49) on December 15th 2018.  Mr McSweeney is charged with failing to give appropriate information to gardaí, failing to keep the vehicle at or near the occurrence, failing to report an occurrence and failing to stop his vehicle after an occurrence.  All four charges relate to an incident on the Airport Road in Cork in the early hours of December 15th 2018 in which Dr Lawlor died as he walked back to his hotel at the airport following a night socialising in Cork city.

On Monday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court when the case was called, Mr McSweeney’s barrister, Donal O’Sullivan BL confirmed that his client would affirm a signed plea of guilty made in Cork District Court to all four charges.  Judge Sean O Donnabhain noted Mr O’Sullivan’s submission and he adjourned the case against Mr McSweeney for finalisation at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on October 20th next.

<snip>

Makes you wonder.  70+ years old.  Was he working at 5am?  Did his personal circumstances (pension etc) force him to work at those hours.  Or was he off-duty himself and maybe shouldn't have been driving himself?

[silverbullet]

Taxi driver to plead guilty to charges over fatal Cork hit-and-run (Irish Times)

A 74 year old taxi driver will be pleading guilty to four charges arising out of a a fatal hit and run in which a consultant psychiatrist died, lawyers for the accused told a court on Monday.

Denis McSweeney from Pouladuff Road, Ballyphehane in Cork is charged with four charges relating to a road traffic collision which claimed the life of consultant psychiatrist, Dr Martin Lawlor (49) on December 15th 2018.  Mr McSweeney is charged with failing to give appropriate information to gardaí, failing to keep the vehicle at or near the occurrence, failing to report an occurrence and failing to stop his vehicle after an occurrence.  All four charges relate to an incident on the Airport Road in Cork in the early hours of December 15th 2018 in which Dr Lawlor died as he walked back to his hotel at the airport following a night socialising in Cork city.

On Monday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court when the case was called, Mr McSweeney’s barrister, Donal O’Sullivan BL confirmed that his client would affirm a signed plea of guilty made in Cork District Court to all four charges.  Judge Sean O Donnabhain noted Mr O’Sullivan’s submission and he adjourned the case against Mr McSweeney for finalisation at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on October 20th next.

<snip>

Makes you wonder.  70+ years old.  Was he working at 5am?  Did his personal circumstances (pension etc) force him to work at those hours.  Or was he off-duty himself and maybe shouldn't have been driving himself?

No excuses.

[Rat Catcher]

Maybe he had a few jars...

[stonethecrows]

Then again he may be the guy Ken was telling us about racing him back to the city to get the Pax before him

[dalymount]

No Ken doesn't need to rush back,sure hasn't the app turned on with a 75% discount waiting for his first punter

[silverbullet]

I hope they throw Ken's book at him!

[Belker]

He was a Silly man on the night, I doubt it was his intention to kill the pedestrian but because he fled the scene, he is now looking at criminal charges and a prison sentence fer what in reality was just an accident.

[dalymount]

It must be hard to live with the consequences of having done such a thing

[Theoneandonly]

I worked with a bloke who killed a ten year old boy that ran out from behind a bus, he was totally exonerated .... didn't stop the nightmares, he was fucked up for the years I knew him

[dalymount]

I can believe that.God help the child,and God help your work mate who has his own battle

[dalymount]

In my work life ,I worked with 2 murderers in two different jobs. How can you take someone's life purposely  ?

[taxi1990]

Why would you run? That is the issue, I wouldn't have any sympathy for anyone who runs after knocking someone down, that is just a selfish act.

[Theoneandonly]

Why would you run? That is the issue, I wouldn't have any sympathy for anyone who runs after knocking someone down, that is just a selfish act.

Sheer panic I guess, one never knows how you would react in a situation like that, many that run eventually show up at a garda station later

[taxi1990]

It is selfish simple as, you may be in a panic but you know the right thing to do is to wait and get help, im sure many hit and run deaths could have been prevented if the driver didn't run.

[Jack Meoff]

And he was caught at the scene of the accident a short time later.