Bus rampage death accused remanded to mental hospital

A man accused of causing the death of a Dublin woman after going on the rampage with a bus was today remanded to the Central Mental Hospital for another seven weeks.

The case against Peter Clarke, who was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 61-year-old Marie Buckley, was adjourned at Dublin’s Circuit Criminal Court.

The 36-year-old of Kiltalawn Court, Tallaght, was in court for the brief hearing before Judge Katherine Delahunt.

Clarke, an employee of Dualway Coaches, is accused of taking a 53-seater coach and being involved in a number of collisions.

More than a dozen people, including gardaí, were injured as the bus was driven at speed on the Naas Road dual carriageway and in the Luas tramway.

Clarke has been receiving psychiatric treatment at the Dundrum Hospital since the incident on May 7 last year.

Counsel for Clarke today asked for a two-month adjournment as it was awaiting video copies of interview tapes with gardaí from the State and a report from the Central Mental Hospital.

Patrick Geraghty, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said CCTV footage from the incident was also being downloaded.

The case was adjourned until March 30.

“At the moment you are getting seven weeks and I want everything to be in order for that day,” added Judge Delahunt.