A former bus driver who lives in Cavan has been given a fully-suspended sentenced after he admitted to careless driving causing the death of a cyclist just over two years ago. Mark Hayden (49) died from severe injuries he sustained when a Swords Express coach collided with his bicycle on a local access road near Kilshane Cross in north County Dublin on May 4, 2021.
32-year-old Mariusz Karpinski of Killegland House, Ashbourne, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to careless driving causing Mr Hayden's death. During yesterday's hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Karpinski to one year but suspended it in full, describing it as a very sad and very tragic case.
The court heard that Mr Karpinski had been driving into very strong sunlight and he had not seen Mr Hayden cycling to his left-hand side. Judge Nolan said that while the driver made a mistake he failed to take appropriate steps to deal with the weather conditions. Meanwhile, the Judge was told that MrKarpinski has suffered with his mental health since the incident and moved to Cavan where he works in a factory.
References attesting to his good character and the devastating impact of this incident on him were presented to court. Judge Nolan added the he found Mr Karpinski to be a "man of conscience" who had show remorse. He did not disqualify the defendant from driving.
