A Polish courier arrested at Dublin Airport after arriving from Poland has appeared in court in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of an elderly cyclist, reports The Mirror.
Piotr Broniarczyk (42), who has a registered address in Poland, was brought before Judge Eirinn McKiernan at Trim District Court on Thursday.
He faces three charges relating to the hit-and-run incident: failing to remain at the scene, failing to report the incident, and failing to offer assistance to Edward (Ned) McLoughlin on Friday, September 12, at Batterstown, Ballivor, Co Meath, reports The Mirror.
The incident occurred last Friday, when gardaí and emergency responders were alerted to a collision between a cyclist and a vehicle on the R156 road in Batterstown, Ballivor at around 10am.
The cyclist, Edward (Ned) McLoughlin, a man in his 80s from Trim, was found unresponsive and transported to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, where he was later pronounced dead.
The vehicle involved is alleged to have left the scene without stopping. Sergeant Eoin Treacy provided evidence of the arrest, the charges, and the caution given to the accused, reports The Mirror.
Sgt Treacy stated that the accused was detained on Wednesday, September 17, and formally charged at Ashbourne Garda Station at 10.38pm. The charges were translated into Polish, and the accused made “no reply” following caution.
The sergeant added that the man is employed by a courier company operating in both Ireland and Poland, typically working ten days in Ireland before returning to Poland. “He has no fixed address here,” Sgt Treacy said, reports The Mirror.
According to Sgt Treacy, the accused “surrendered himself” and was arrested upon arrival at Dublin Airport after disembarking a flight from Poland on Wednesday, September 17.
Bail was not opposed, but Sgt Treacy said that “a significant cash lodgement of €10,000 is required.” Defence solicitor Niall Walsh told the court that the accused’s family “is likely to go surety” and has bank accounts in both Poland and Ireland, reports The Mirror.
Mr Walsh also stated that the accused had provided an address in Tallaght where he could stay and had surrendered his passport.
Judge McKiernan granted bail on the accused’s own bond of €200 and required a €10,000 cash lodgement from a surety approved by gardaí.
The bail terms also require the accused to sign in once per month at Trim Garda Station. He is scheduled to appear again in court on Tuesday, September 23, pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Walsh requested that the court order urgent medical attention and an assessment for the accused, which the judge approved, reports The Mirror.
Wearing a blue jumper, white shirt, and blue jeans, the accused did not speak during the proceedings, which were translated for him by a Polish interpreter.
Members of Mr McLoughlin’s family were present in court, along with the accused’s wife, reports The Mirror.
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