John Maher, a married father-of-two from Co Kildare, died after being struck by a Thwaites front dumper on July 2, 2025
Tarieli Schatz (37), of the Grand Hotel, Abbey Street, Wicklow town, Co. Wicklow, appeared before Bray District Court for a renewed bail application.
The court heard on Tuesday, November 11, that Mr Schatz, who had originally been charged with careless driving causing the death of John Maher, is now facing an upgraded charge of dangerous driving causing death.
Mr Maher, a married father-of-two from Co. Kildare, died after being struck by a Thwaites front dumper on July 2, 2025. Members of Mr Maher’s family were present in court.
Tarieli Schatz
News in 90 Seconds – Thursday, November 13
The upgraded charge, brought following a review of the file, carries a potential 10-year sentence and a mandatory four-year driving ban, up from the original two-year maximum.
Mr Eoghan Gallagher BL, counsel for the defence and instructed by Michael O’Connor, told the court that as it is a new charge, they have decided to submit a renewed bail application with a reduced bond and independent surety. Mr Schatz had previously been granted High Court bail.
The court was informed that Mr Schatz is a Georgian national who had been living in an IPAS centre and has a child outside the jurisdiction in Austria.
The court also heard that Mr Schatz’s wife is currently “working day and night” to secure an independent surety.
Mr O’Connor told the court that members of the Georgian community in Ireland had come forward to provide the surety, but added that he felt the court would not accept a surety from them.
Mr Gallagher informed the court that Mr Schatz’s wife has €7,500 available to her for the surety.
The court heard that she is currently isolated due to not speaking English or Russian.
Judge David Kennedy ruled that even though the charge is new, the bail conditions will remain the same.
Judge Kennedy remanded Mr Schatz until December 11, 2025, when he will be sentenced on the “minor offences”.
The minor offences include that on April 16, 2025, Mr Schatz was found with a controlled drug and driving without a licence or insurance in Wicklow. He also faces a separate charge of uninsured driving on March 9, 2025, and failing to produce an insurance certificate.
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