Deportation order for man convicted over construction site death of father-of-two

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

A man who admitted causing the death of a father-of-two by carelessly driving a nine-tonne dumper on a Wicklow construction site has been convicted, with a judge ordering that he leave the State.

Tarieli Schatz (38), formerly of the Grand Hotel, Abbey Street, Wicklow town, Co. Wicklow, and now with an address at Willow Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, appeared before a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing, after pleading guilty to careless driving causing the death of Kildare man John Maher.

Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly, said that the accused, who is a Georgian national, was driving a nine-tonne front dumper on a building site on Greenane Road, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, when he hit Mr Maher.

Seamus Breen of Wicklow Garda Station testified that the fatal accident occurred at 3.26 pm on July 2, 2025.

The court was told that, had the case gone to trial, multiple witness statements taken from other workers on the building site would have been relied upon.

Mr Kelly said that the accused reversed the vehicle after hitting the deceased, before “intentionally reversing to help the situation”.

A doctor from a nearby medical practice came to the scene, but Mr Maher had already been pronounced dead by the emergency services.

The cause of Mr Maher’s death was ruled to be traumatic brain injuries and chest injuries.

Mr Schatz was observed “raising dust” as he was driving and looked “out of it”, with him telling gardaí during interview that he had smoked cannabis the night before the fatal accident.

He denies smoking cannabis on the day of the accident.

Staff at the building site had reported to management that the brakes on the dumper were “spongy”. Management contacted the hire company to remove it and it was stood down.

Garda Conor Normoyle asked Mr Schatz if he had a nine-tonne permit. The accused said that he did not see Mr Maher, but tried to brake.

Sgt Breen arrested Mr Schatz and took him to Wicklow Garda Station. He fell asleep on the journey and was interviewed the following day.

A specialist garda examined the vehicle, with the court hearing that the handbrake efficiency was below the expected performance level and that the clutch pedal “was neglected and showed no upkeep”.

When asked how he started the vehicle, Mr Schatz told gardaí that he had hot-wired the dumper, but claimed that management had told him to use it. He said that the dumper began speeding up.

“I could not stop it. I seen I hit him. I drove up on the path,” said Mr Schatz.

Mr Schatz was serving a driving disqualification, with Mr Kelly stating that the building site was classified as a public place. The court also heard that the accused is subject to a deportation order, which automatically revoked his driving licence.

Member’s of the deceased’s family were also present in court.

In a victim impact statement read by Mr Kelly, Mr Maher’s sister described him as the “heart of the family”, saying his death had “ripped the heart out” of those closest to him.

She recalled that he always arrived with a smile and had been asked to be godfather to her son, helping to choose his name. She said he would be remembered forever.

Reading her own victim impact statement, Mr Maher’s wife, Tracey, told the court that her husband kissed her goodbye before leaving for work on the morning of the collision, before she was told the devastating news the following day.

She described him as her “best friend, teammate, brother, son, son-in-law, husband and father” to their two young boys.

Mrs Maher said having to tell her children that their father had died was the hardest conversation she had ever faced.

The late John Maher from Rathangan, Co Kildare.

She told the court she never had the chance to say goodbye to her husband because of the nature of his injuries and was unable to lie beside him after his death.

“My boys have lost their dad, but I have lost my rock,” she said.

Mrs Maher described herself as emotionally exhausted and said the court process had taken a significant toll on the family.

She added that her children often ask why “other children have their daddies and I don’t”, before describing Mr Maher as an incredible man who loved cycling, supported Leinster and found happiness in the simple things.

The court heard that Mr Schatz said Mr Maher was “very friendly” and said that he had helped him obtain his dumper licence.

Senior counsel for the defence, Paul Carroll, instructed by solicitor Michael O’Connor, said that his client accepts responsibility, pointing to a statement Mr Schatz made in September 2025, in which he said: “John was the best person on site and I’m sorry. I pumped the brakes and pulled the handbrake,” adding, “I didn’t see him.”

In mitigation, Mr Carroll said that Mr Schatz came to Ireland seeking refuge, having worked on building sites despite having very little formal education.

He added that, while in custody, the defendant “had kept his head down and earned enhanced prisoner status”. A reference from the accused’s wife was also handed into the court.

In her judgment, Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin said the court must consider both the offender’s moral culpability and the harm caused.

“The reality is that Mr Maher is dead and his family are heartbroken. I have no words for you. If there was anything I could do, I would do it. All I can do is give you closure, one chapter of it,” said Judge Ní Chúlacháin.

The judge noted there were issues with the dumper’s brakes, but found that the accused had nonetheless driven the vehicle in circumstances where he was tired or, at the very least, should not have been driving.

Judge Ní Chúlacháin noted that the maximum sentence for the offence was two years imprisonment before fixing a headline sentence of 20 months.

She reduced the custodial term to 13 months. She also noted that “imprisonment in a foreign country is particularly difficult”.

The sentence was backdated to July 3, 2025, to reflect time already spent in custody.

The final one month and one day was suspended on condition that Mr Schatz leave the State, and not return to Ireland for 10 years. He also has to enter into a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

The court heard that flights would need to be arranged and that the accused remains in custody under a deportation order, with members of the Garda National Immigration Bureau present in court.