Irish Daily Mirror

‘Super Pope’ artist given the Papal nod

Court hears of GAA pundit crash

- BY OLIVIA KELLEHER news@ irishmirro­r.ie

STREET artist Maupal, whose cartoon-like depictions of Pope Francis as a “Super Pope” became famous, has received an official stamp of approval

Maupal, in life Mauro Pallotta, appeared at a Vatican news conference yesterday.

Sitting next to one of Francis’ closest advisers, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Maupal said he never sought official recognitio­n from the Vatican but was “proud and honoured” to have been asked to depict Francis’ message in art.

He said: “Representi­ng Christian values via art has always been one of the greatest goals of painting.”

He admitted to gardai that he left the scene, that he effectivel­y panicked BARRISTER BRENDAN KELLY CORK COURT, YESTERDAY

A MAN who has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a GAA commentato­r, allegedly told pals he drank and left the scene of an accident, his trial heard.

Paudie Palmer, a 65-year-old broadcaste­r with C103/96FM and a columnist with the Echo in Cork, died on January 8 last year at Cork University Hospital.

He passed away following a collision which occurred at Dunkereen Crossroads, near Innishanno­n on December 29, 2022.

Bohdan Bezverkhyi of Rigsdale House, Rigsdale, Ballinhass­ig, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Palmer.

The 33-year-old Ukrainian pleaded guilty to other charges relating to the same incident including that he failed to report the incident to gardai, failed to offer assistance to the injured person, failed to stop and that he left the scene of the crash.

Mr Bezverkhyi also pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving in a separate incident in Curraheen in Co Cork on December 28, 2022.

Prosecutio­n Barrister Brendan Kelly gave an outline of the evidence to the jury of seven men and five women at the Central Criminal Court in Cork yesterday. He emphasised that his outline was not evidence in itself.

He said that he expects that the evidence that will be given is the accused went to Crossbarry petrol station at around 7.30am on December 29, 2022 in a grey BMW 5 series car.

Mr Kelly said: “He appeared to have a flat tyre. He stayed there for several hours. He changed his tyre and left between 9 and 10am. He went to Dunkereeen Cross at Innishanno­n a short distance away.

“Colette Crowley was at home at 9.45am and she heard a revving car followed by a loud bang.

“A red Peugeot car driven by Mr Palmer was against the embankment. She went to his assistance.

“Gardai attended at the scene and he [Paudie Palmer] was brought to Cork University Hospital. He died on January 8, 2023.

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

Mr Kelly said that

Bezverkhyi was subsequent­ly arrested.

Both vehicles involved in the accident were examined by Garda collision experts.

They found that the grey

BMW, driven by the accused, was fitted with a space saver tyre. Mr Kelly said that Bezverkhyi had an unrestrict­ed view of around 150 metres as he approached the crossroads where the accident occurred.

He said that the evidence would be that Bezverkhyi approached the junction from a minor road coming from the west.

Mr Kelly said that it would be the case of the State that Mr Palmer had the right of way as he was travelling from a Main Road and that the road the accused was on had a stop line and stop sign.

Mr Kelly added: “He admitted to gardai to having left the scene, that he effectivel­y panicked.”

He said that the mobile phone of Bezverkhyi was subsequent­ly seized and examined. Mr Kelly said that the evidence would be that the Ukrainian man, speaking in Russian, admitted to friends that he had consumed alcohol at the time and left the scene of the crash.

The case, which is being presided over by Judge Colin Daly will continue next Tuesday.

The accused is being assisted court by an interprete­r.

Meanwhile, Mr Palmer who was also a retired school teacher, is survived by his wife Colette, his daughters Claire and Emily, his brothers Denis, Richie and John, his grandson Lucas Padraig his extended family, former colleagues at St Brogan’s College in Bandon and a wide circle of friends.

The native of Kenmare in Co Kerry was the uncle of Claudine Keane, who is the wife of former Ireland Internatio­nal Robbie Keane.

He lived in Innishanno­n in Co Cork and was very well known and respected in sporting circles. Attendees at his funeral Mass included GAA stars Sean Og O’hailpin and Alan Quirke and Munster GAA Council PRO Bob Ryan.

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 ?? ?? IN THE DOCK Bohdan Bezverkhyi
RESPECTED Paudie and, left, with Claudine
IN THE DOCK Bohdan Bezverkhyi RESPECTED Paudie and, left, with Claudine

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