Dangerous driving; Cork City player gets suspended sentence for causing death

Edward Power McCarthy, a 19-year-old Cork City FC player, from Moyross, Co Limerick has been given a two-year suspended sentence and a seven-year driving ban after he was proved guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of a father-of-two.

He caused the death of 55-year-old Polish national, Andrzej Obalek, on 18 February last at Ballybeg West, Buttevant, Co Cork. Mr Obalek was in Limerick visiting friends when he died in the accident.

Power McCarthy was driving home to Limerick having attended soccer training at Cork Institute of Technology when the crash occurred.

He had been attending training a few nights a week in Cork. Power McCarthy was speeding when his car veered on to the incorrect side of the road. Mr Obalek’s car was struck at the front. 

It went in to a ditch and he died at the scene. Power McCarthy escaped serious injury as did the other two male occupants of his car. 

Sgt Tony Cronin told Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin that the defendant was driving his car at “excessive speed” which was particularly hazardous given that the area was a well-known accident blackspot. 

However, Power McCarthy was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He also had no previous convictions. 

The young footballer, who spent three years in the UK at a soccer academy, apologised in the witness box for his actions. He said he prayed for the deceased daily and was horrified at what had occurred on a routine journey from Cork.

Judge Ó Donnabháin said the massive aggravating factor in the case was that the defendant was driving at speed. He said the young footballer should have been used to driving through the dangerous bends of Ballybeg and that he should have been careful.

Having heard that Power McCarthy was remorseful and working hard in an express courier service, he jailed him for two years, suspending the entirety of the sentence.

He said the driving disqualification of seven years was warranted. Judge Ó Donnabháin expressed frustration at suggestions from defence counsel that he read a reference from the FAI. He said that he was not interested in the soccer career of the defendant.