A 23-year-old man, Shane Fitzgerald, of Newmarket, Co Cork, has been found guilty by a jury of dangerous driving causing the death of a 42-year-old father Paud O’Leary in July 2012.
Judge Thomas E O’Donnell has remanded Fitzgerald on bail for sentencing on April 22nd. The maximum penalty for the charge is 10 years in prison.
Mr. O’Leary had gone out on early morning training spin on July 1st in preparation for the upcoming Ring of Kerry cycle. At around 5.15am that morning, a vehicle collided with Mr O’Leary, who had been cycling in the opposite direction.
The motorist did not remain at the scene and Mr O’Leary’s body was found later that day. The jury had been shown CCTV footage of Fitzgerald having up to five drinks with friends in Killarney pubs before he drove out of Killarney at around 5am on July 1.
He later fled to England and subsequently to Australia, selling the Land Cruiser, which he had been driving.
