Court hears fatal crash driver to make case that he fell asleep

The driver of a lorry who has been charged with dangerous driving causing the death of a County Council worker will be making the case that h fell asleep, Sligo Circuit Court was told.

The case against Vlastimil Zachar of Connell Drive, Newbridge has been adjourned to December.

The accused is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Padraig Noone (62) on August 13th 2015.

The accused’s defence counsel, Mr Pat O’Sullivan with Mr Morgan O’Sullivan, solicitor told Judge Keenan Johnson that effectively Zachar had fallen asleep while driving.

He said the defence needed “to go behind that” and sought to have the legal aid certificate extended to cover a consultant’s report. The case has been put in for arraignment on December 12 th next.

Mr O’Sullivan indicated that the case would take between four and five weeks and suggested that it may need a special sitting. He added that there were 45 prosecution witnesses alone.

Judge Johnson granted the request to have the cost of a medical report covered by legal aid and adjourned the case to December 12 th next.

At that sitting the accused will indicate whether he is pleading guilty or not guilty to the charge.