Ballingeary man pleads guilty to dangerous driving that caused the death of a woman
Sentencing of Michael Lucey was adjourned until February 13, 2024. File picture: Larry Cummins
A Ballingeary man pleaded guilty on Friday to dangerous driving causing the death of a local woman and drink-driving in the Gaeltacht village last December.
Arraigned today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, 42-year-old Michael Lucey of Derryvaleen, Ballingeary, County Cork, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 51-year-old Gobnait Twomey.
Secondly, Mr Lucey pleaded guilty to drink-driving where alcohol was detected at a level of 179 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of urine at the time.
As soon as the guilty pleas were entered, defence senior counsel Elizabeth O’Connell said that members of the Twomey family were present in court and that all of the parties were from the Ballingeary area.
“He hopes that his plea offers some ease in an awful situation,” Ms O’Connell said. She added that testimonials on the accused would be prepared in time for the sentencing hearing.
Prosecution barrister Brendan Kelly said that a victim impact statement would be prepared by the Twomey family.
Judge Helen Boyle said: “I would like to express sincere condolences to members of the Twomey family.”
Sentencing of Mr Lucey was adjourned until February 13, 2024. He was remanded on continuing bail until then. It was clarified in court that consideration of the length of time for which the accused would be disqualified would not be given until the sentencing date.
