Drink driver admits that he caused musician’s death

A drink driver admitted yesterday he caused the death of a noted musician travelling in the back seat of his car in West Cork last October.

Aidan McCarthy, aged 29, of Ballycomane, Durrus, Banrty, Co Cork, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday on two counts.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 32-year-old Taidhg Burke on October 20, 2013, at Bridge St, Bantry.

He also pleaded guilty to drink driving whereby the amount of alcohol in his blood exceeded the limit of 80 mgs per 100 mls.

There was a suggestion of the case being adjourned for sentencing until October but defence senior counsel Tom Creed, on behalf of McCarthy, said: “My client does not want to cause any further distress to the family of the deceased. He would prefer to have it dealt with at the next sessions rather than later, with the inevitable consequences.”

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin adjourned sentencing until June 26 with the accused remanded on continuing bail.

Siobhán Lankford, prosecuting, said a victim impact statement would, in the meantime, be prepared by the family of the late Mr Burke, a young man who was a musician with a band called The Calvinists.

Background evidence in the case will be given at the sentencing hearing.