A BUS driver involved in a fatal road crash in Co Meath has admitted causing the collision.
Sorin Dinu (44), Castlecurragh Heath, Mulhuddart, Dublin, had until yesterday denied a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Cathal O’Leary at Johnstown, Enfield, Co Meath, on February 23rd, 2009.
He changed his plea to guilty yesterday on the fourth day of his trial at Trim Circuit Court.
Mr O’Leary had been driving to work in Dublin when his 4x4 collided with a Bus Éireann Expressway bus, driven by the defendant, at the Dublin roundabout near Enfield on the old Dublin-Galway road.
The court heard the bus was approaching the roundabout just before 6.30am when it veered to the right, on to the wrong side of the road, hit the raised island in the centre of the roundabout and then became airborne.
Its rear undercarriage struck the top of Mr O’Leary’s 4x4, which was on the opposite side of the roundabout. Mr O’Leary died instantly, while the defendant suffered back and other injuries.
The court was told the tachograph in the bus showed it had been travelling at 75km/h as it entered the roundabout.
The defendant had told gardaí the brakes in the bus had failed to respond as he approached the roundabout. However, a subsequent inspection found the vehicle was in good mechanical order and the brakes were working properly.
After a day of legal argument in the absence of the jury, Barry Hickson, defending, said his client was changing his plea. The defendant, who had sobbed during much of the evidence, replied “guilty” when the charge was read to him. Judge Michael O’Shea remanded the defendant on bail to May 8th, when a date for sentencing will be set. He directed that probation and welfare reports be prepared on the defendant, as well as victim impact reports.