Doctor admits careless driving causing death of his six-year-old daughter

The child passed away at a Dublin hospital nine days after the crash on the M6

Dr Babak Meshkat leaving Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of his six-year-old daughter. Photo: Tom Tuite

A doctor has pleaded guilty to careless driving causing his six-year-old daughter's death in the Midlands.

Babak Meshkat, aged 46, of An Cimín Mór, Cappagh Road, Galway, was charged following a Garda investigation into a crash on the M6, at Rochfortbridge, in Co Westmeath on February 8, 2024.

The child Hana Mehkat passed away at the Children's Health Ireland (CHI) hospital at Temple Street in Dublin nine days after the incident. Last year, the accused was charged and sent forward for trial to the Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.

The case resumed on Tuesday when Judge Cephas Power noted from the prosecution that there was an application to amend the original charge of dangerous driving causing death to a lesser charge of careless driving causing death of Hana Meshkat.

Defence counsel Gerard Groarke confirmed that the case could be progressed, and once the indictment was re-drafted, the accused was arraigned.

Doctor Meshkat replied "guilty" when the re-worded charge was put to him, and he was not required to give evidence at this stage. Judge Power remanded him on continuing bail to appear again for facts and sentencing on July 22 next.

He noted the defence needed to obtain reports and also directed the preparation of a victim impact statement.

Earlier, the defence indicated it would engage an independent expert to analyse the crash data from the 2021-reg car, and further disclosure of evidence was ordered.

His barrister had asked for additional time, explaining that time was needed to examine technical documents and instruct a forensic engineer. The court heard the defence wished to have access to an inspection of the car's driver data from a crash module installed in the vehicle.

The State had already provided a 120-page report from the garda inspection to Mr Meshkat's legal team. An investigation file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, leading to criminal proceedings being initiated last year.