Man pleads guilty to road rage manslaughter

A man charged with murder after an alleged road rage incident described as a moment of madness by his legal team has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Karl Donohoe, aged 31, of Boulevard, Bealing Village, Tyrellstown, west Dublin, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after being charged with the murder of 49-year-old Raymond Bates, from Durham, England, on Sept 26, 2010.

The attack occurred after an altercation at the junction of Tritonville Road, Sandymount Road and Newbridge Avenue in the south Dublin suburb of Sandymount, which led to the father of three suffering head injuries.

Both Mr Bates and Donohoe drove away before a witness reported the assault to gardaí. However, Mr Bates — who had been living in a nearby rented apartment — was soon taken to St Vincent’s University Hospital.

He was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he fell into a coma and died on Sept 30.

Donohoe, a crane worker originally from Fisherman’s Wharf, Ringsend, Dublin, was arrested and initially charged with assault causing serious harm, before this was increased to murder.

He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court yesterday. Isobel Kennedy, prosecuting, said the plea was acceptable. Mr Justice Paul Carney adjourned sentencing and remanded Donohoe in custody until Apr 16, after Mr Bates’ family asked for time to prepare a victim impact statement.

During yesterday’s hearing Brendan Grehan, defending, also asked for time to prepare a probation report for his client.

He told the court the defendant understood Mr Bates’ family was in court and wanted to sincerely apologise to them for what happened.

Mr Grehan said a moment of madness on the part of his client had ended Mr Bates’ life and ruined his own, adding that Donohoe was deeply sorry for his actions.