Court archive
Court reports mentioning French Park, Roscommon
2021-10-19 · Dublin
The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of Osborn Irabor for careless driving causing the death of cyclist Mary White on November 17, 2014. Irabor, aged 60 from French Park, Tyrrelstown, Dublin, was originally convicted following a two-day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in October 2018 and disqualified from driving for four years. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge. His appeal centred on claims that the trial judge had not adequately explained legal terminology to the jury in accessible language during a re-charge following their request for clarification. The Court of Appeal, in a judgment delivered by Mr Justice John Edwards, rejected these arguments, finding the verdict was properly supported by evidence. The court noted that the prosecution had presented clear evidence that Irabor's double-decker bus cut the corner when turning at a T junction on Burlington Road, Dublin, striking Ms White and causing her death from head injuries two days later.
2021-01-26 · Dublin
A bus driver has appealed his conviction for careless driving causing death, challenging the trial judge's instructions to the jury on legal terminology. Osborn Irabor, aged 60 of French Park, Dublin, was convicted in 2018 at the Circuit Criminal Court in connection with the death of a cyclist on November 17, 2014. During jury deliberations, jurors requested clarification of legal principles in layman's terms, but the judge subsequently re-charged them using formal legal language including words such as "appreciable" and "due care and attention." At the Court of Appeal, Irabor's counsel argued this approach may have caused jury confusion and questioned what conduct demonstrated a fall below the standard expected of a competent driver. The three-judge panel, presiding over the appeal, reserved judgment. At sentencing in 2018, the trial judge imposed a mandatory four-year driving ban, finding imprisonment unjustified despite the serious nature of the offence. The judge noted Irabor's unblemished safety record and absence of previous convictions.
2018-11-12 · Dublin
A bus driver from Dublin has been convicted of careless driving causing death following a collision with a cyclist on Burlington Road in November 2014. Osborn Irabor, aged fifty-eight, had pleaded not guilty to the charge but was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The incident occurred when his double-decker bus struck Mary White as she cycled towards a T-junction. Ms White sustained traumatic head injuries and died two days later in hospital. Judge Francis Comerford emphasised that drivers must exercise particular regard for cyclists' vulnerability on roads. The court found that the bus cut the corner at the junction, placing the cyclist in a blind spot created by the wing mirror. The judge noted Irabor's previously unblemished safety record since joining Dublin Bus in two thousand and seven, and determined that imprisonment was not warranted. However, Irabor received a mandatory four-year driving disqualification, effective from January first, which will likely result in job loss.
2018-10-24 · Dublin
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has found Osborn Irabor, a Dublin Bus driver aged 58 from Tyrrelstown, Dublin, guilty of careless driving causing the death of cyclist Mary White on November 17th, 2014. The collision occurred at approximately 9.40pm at a T-junction on Burlington Road when the bus turned right into the path of Ms White, who was cycling towards the junction. She sustained serious head injuries and died two days later. The jury returned a unanimous verdict after two hours of deliberation. A garda crash investigator testified that the bus had begun its turn prematurely and crossed a solid white line onto the wrong side of the road. The defence argued the incident resulted from visibility issues on a dark winter's night rather than careless driving. Judge Francis Comerford remanded Irabor on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to November 12th to allow time for character testimonials and victim impact reports to be prepared. Osborn Irabor pleaded not guilty.
2018-10-24 · Dublin
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a forensic collision investigator gave evidence that at least three Dublin Bus vehicles were observed cutting the corner at a junction where a fatal collision occurred in 2014. Osborn Irabor, aged 58, of French Park, Tyrrelstown, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to careless driving causing the death of Mary White on November 17, 2014. The cyclist was struck by a bus at a T-junction on Burlington Road when the vehicle turned right. Ms White suffered serious head injuries and died two days later. Expert witnesses disagreed on whether the corner-cutting constituted a breach of traffic regulations. A defence expert testified that the road layout required any bus stopped at the yield line to cut across the centre line. A Garda sergeant maintained that no junction should be cut and disputed the findings. The trial continues.
2018-10-23 · Dublin
Osborn Irabor, a Dublin Bus driver aged 58 from Tyrrelstown, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to careless driving causing the death of cyclist Mary White at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The collision occurred on 17 November 2014 at a T-junction on Burlington Road at approximately 9.40pm. Ms White sustained serious head injuries when her bicycle and the bus collided and was pronounced dead two days later at St Vincent's Hospital. The prosecution contends that Mr Irabor failed to exercise sufficient care while turning right onto Burlington Road, where Ms White was approaching from the right. Evidence indicated Ms White wore reflective clothing, operated functioning bicycle lights, and was visible to other road users. Mr Irabor passed a breathalyser test at the scene. The defence suggested that visibility conditions at that time of year may affect cyclist safety equipment effectiveness. The trial was ongoing at the time of reporting.