Man (38) admits careless driving causing death of Kildare father-of-two John Maher at Wicklow site

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

A man charged with dangerous driving causing death has pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of careless driving causing death, arising from a workplace incident in Wicklow that claimed the life of Kildare father-of-two John Maher.

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 charged with dangerous driving causing death.

The court was told that the accused could be arraigned on an amended indictment of careless driving causing death.

Mr Schatz pleaded guilty that on July 2, 2025, at a construction site located on Greenane Road, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, he drove a vehicle, namely a Thwaites dumper, without reasonable consideration for John Maher.

Dangerous driving causing death is the most serious road traffic offence before the courts and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment upon conviction on indictment.

However, the court heard that the State had accepted a plea to the lesser charge of careless driving causing death, which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment or a fine of up to €50,000.

At a previous sitting, the court was told by investigating gardaí, Sergeant Simon Whelan, that the accused is a Georgian national who speaks fluent Russian and also holds a Lithuanian passport.

Mr Schatz has previous convictions from outside the jurisdiction, including in Austria, from where he was deported.

While living in Ireland, the defendant was residing in international protection accommodation, from which he was removed following an altercation with another resident.

Barrister for the defence, Paul Carroll, remarked that his client is seeking a sentence within the coming weeks due to spending a significant period in custody, after being refused bail on multiple occasions because of his limited ties to the jurisdiction.

A governor’s report was ordered, with the court hearing that he has been working and “staying out of trouble” while on remand in Cloverhill Prison.

Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly, stated that the widow of Mr Maher will have a victim impact statement prepared by Thursday, June 25. Members of the deceased’s family were present in court.

Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin adjourned the matter until late June for sentencing.