Marius Mihai Popa (41) pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing the death of Darren Brodigan (35) in Dublin
Marius Mihai Popa (41) pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing the death of Darren Brodigan (35) at Poppintree Park Lane, Ballymun on November 27, 2022.
Popa, of The Hampton, Santry Cross, Ballymun, was driving home from work as a mechanic at the time of the collision, which occurred shortly before 1 am on a stretch of road that was dark as a result of mature overhanging trees, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today.
Mr Brodigan was walking home after a night with his uncle in a local pub, The Willows. He was in good form that night, had drunk about five pints with his uncle and was crossing the road on his way home when Popa’s car crashed into him.
Garda Mark Gandola told David Staunton BL, prosecuting, that there was no CCTV footage of the incident, but crash investigators ascertained that Popa was driving at 62km on the road, which has a 50km/h speed limit.
Marius Mihai Popa (41) pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing the death of Darren Brodigan at Poppintree Park Lane, Ballymun, on November 27, 2022. Photo: Collins Courts
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Popa rang emergency services and flagged down a passing ambulance to come to Mr Brodigan’s assistance, but he died a short while later in hospital from massive brain injuries.
Victim impact statements from his sister and mother were read in court, and Mr Brodigan’s fiancée and mother of his children, Geraldine Trappe, was also in court for the sentence hearing.
Mr Brodigan’s sister Aoife said her brother had a big heart and a great spirit. “Losing him so suddenly and senselessly changed my life and my family’s life forever,” she said.
“Since losing Darren, it feels like a part of us is missing that we can’t get back, and we don’t know how to be us anymore.”
She said Mr Brodigan’s children were left without their dad, and it was heartbreaking watching them adjust to life without him.
“He was loved more than anybody can ever say,” Ms Brodigan said. “We miss his laugh, his jokes, his presence and the love he brought into our lives.”
A victim impact statement was read out on behalf of Mr Brodigan’s mother, Yvonne, in which she outlined how Darren was her firstborn child – “a natural leader” and “a calming presence”. “He was intelligent, hard-working and caring,” she said.
“There is silence and emptiness where his laughter used to be.”
Gda Gandola agreed with Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, defending, that on the night in question, the road was so dark that he had to use a torch to navigate the crash scene. He agreed that three other paramedics commented on how dark the road was.
Since this incident, the street lights have been upgraded to LED lights, the court heard.
Gda Gandola agreed that Popa co-operated fully with the garda investigation, tested negative for alcohol and drugs and was not using his phone or distracted by anything else at the time. Popa said he did not see Mr Brodigan up until the moment of impact.
Gda Gandola agreed that Popa was genuinely distressed and remorseful to the point where he was unable to take part in the first garda interview. He has no previous convictions.
A letter of apology from Popa to the Brodigan family was read out in court, in which he said he takes full responsibility for his actions that night and thinks about Mr Brodigan constantly. “I know my pain is nothing compared to the endless void in your lives,” he said.
The court heard Popa previously lost his nine-year-old son in a drowning incident. He is originally from Romania and was living in Ireland since 2006, working as a mechanic. He has since returned to Romania and travelled back for the court case.
Sentencing Popa, Judge Martin Nolan said there were no aggravating factors in the case such as grossly excessive speed, recklessness, use of drink or drugs or using a phone. He noted Popa was over the speed limit, but said he did not consider it excessive speed in the circumstances.
He said he believes Popa is “a person with a conscience”. He set a sentence of eight months and suspended it in full on a number of conditions.
He disqualified Popa from driving for a period of one year.
The judge extended his sympathies to the Brodigan family.