A doctor has pleaded guilty to careless driving causing his six-year-old daughter’s death in 2024.
Babak Meshkat, aged 46, of An Cimín Mór, Cappagh Road, Galway, was charged following a garda investigation into a crash on the M6, at Rochfortbridge, in Co Westmeath, on 8 February 2024.
Hana Mehkat died at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street in Dublin, nine days later.
Last year, Meshkat was charged and sent forward for trial to Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.
The case resumed this morning when Judge Cephas Power noted from the prosecution that there was an application to amend the original charge of dangerous driving causing death to a lesser charge of careless driving causing Hana’s death.
Defence counsel Gerard Groarke confirmed that the case could be progressed, and once the indictment was redrafted, Meshkat was arraigned.
Meshkat replied “guilty” when the reworded charge was put to him, and he was not required to give evidence at this stage.
Judge Power remanded him on continuing bail to appear again for sentencing on 22 July.
He noted the defence needed to obtain reports and also directed the preparation of a victim impact statement.
Earlier, the defence indicated it would engage an independent expert to analyse the crash data from the 2021-registered car, and further disclosure of evidence was ordered.
Meshkat’s barrister had asked for additional time, explaining that time was needed to examine technical documents and instruct a forensic engineer.
The court heard the defence wished to have access to and an inspection of the car’s driver data from a crash module installed in the vehicle.
The State had already provided a 120-page report from the garda inspection to Meshkat’s legal team.
An investigation file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, leading to criminal proceedings being initiated last year.