Man accused of dangerous driving causing death of GAA broadcaster 'effectively admitted it was his fault'

GAA broadcaster Paudie Palmer died from traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

The Ukrainian national who was put on trial by judge and jury today charged with dangerous driving causing the death of GAA broadcaster Paudie Palmer at Christmas time in 2022 contacted others by phone on the day and “effectively he admitted it was his fault". 

That was the allegation made by prosecution barrister Brendan Kelly in his opening address to a jury of seven women and five men at a trial presided over by Judge Jonathan Dunphy at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Bohdan Bezverkhyi, aged 33, of Rigsdale House, Rigsdale, Ballinhassig, County Cork, denies the charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Palmer at Dunkereen Cross, Innishannon, Co Cork, on December 29, 2022.

Mr Kelly said in his opening of the trial that early in the morning of that date the accused drove into Crossbarry petrol station where it appeared that his BMW car had a flat tyre. He stayed there for several hours. He changed his tyre and left between 9-10am. He went to Dunkereeen Cross at Innishannon a short distance away.

The prosecution barrister said Colette Crowley was at home that morning and heard from her kitchen the revving engine of a car. Soon afterwards she went to the crossroads and found a red Peugeot car driven by Mr Palmer which was against an embankment. She and others went to his assistance. Ultimately, Mr Palmer was brought to Cork University Hospital where he died on January 8, 2023.

 Dr Margaret Bolster, pathologist, reported on January 9 that death was due to traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries due to a road traffic collision, Mr Kelly said.

The prosecution barrister said debris belonging to the grey BMW 5 series car belonging to the accused was found at the scene of the collision.

Mr Kelly said the prosecution case was that the accused approached the junction and had a stop line and stop sign against it and that a motorist coming on to the junction from this road would have had an unrestricted 150 metre view of traffic on the road coming from the direction of travel of the late Mr Palmer.

Questioned later by gardaí the accused “admitted he was involved in a collision, he panicked and left the scene”, Mr Kelly said.

“His phone was analysed. He had engaged in conversation with third parties in Russian. Effectively, he admitted it was his fault,” the prosecution barrister said.

“The state’s case is that he was driving his car, sped up to this crossroad, came to a stop sign and went through it, just as Mr Palmer’s car was coming to the crossroad causing it to spin and collide with the embankment causing his death. Dangerous driving causing death is the issue you have to decide,” Mr Kelly told the jurors.

The trial continues.