A Polish tourist was killed in a car accident near the Cliffs of Moher two years ago after a driver was confused because his SatNav told him to go in the wrong direction.
At Ennis Circuit Court, counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly, said the State accepted that Grzegorz Barski’s SatNav telling him to go straight on instead of taking a right for the Cliffs of Moher at a junction was a contributory cause in the fatal accident on May 31, 2016.
In the crash, the front-seat passenger in Mr Barski’s car, Grzegorz Frydrych died while a motorcyclist, Charles Killeen, who collided with the car, suffered head injuries, including a fractured skull and multiple broken facial bones and was hospitalised for one month.
Mr Barski, (36), of Jugback Crescent, Swords, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of Mr Frydrych and careless driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Killeen.
Mr Barski’s car collided with Mr Killeen’s motorbike at a junction on the Wild Atlantic Way near the Cliffs of Moher after Mr Barski failed to spot a ‘Stop’ sign near the junction.
Counsel for Mr Barski, Rebecca Treacy, said her client was following a SatNav system to travel from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher.
Mr Barski was travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way with his friend, Mr Frydrych, and a female passenger who was in the back seat of the car.
He was driving up a narrow country road near Doonagore Castle in Doolin that meets a junction on the R478 that leads south to the Cliffs of Moher.
Ms Treacy, said, “On coming to the junction, Mr Barski thought that he had to go right to the Cliffs and the SatNav was telling him to go straight on.
“Mr Barski had slowed down and was confused in relation to the instructions that the SatNav system was giving to him at the time and this would be a factor in how he missed the ‘Stop’ sign and continued to drive through the particular junction.”
Mr Connolly agreed, stating that Mr Barski told gardaí he remembered the brown tourist sign for the Cliffs of Moher telling him to go right while his SatNav was telling him to go straight on.
Mr Connolly said Mr Barski was confused, didn’t know which way to go and before he knew it, it was too late as there was an impact with Mr Killeen’s motorcycle. “The confusion about the SatNav and momentary inattention to see the ‘Stop’ sign is what caused the accident,” he outlined.
Ms Treacy said the ‘Stop’ sign was located back from the junction and that there were no road markings confirming that there was a requirement to stop at the junction.
She highlighted that the ‘Stop’ markings on the road have since been painted on the road and added there was simply no aggravating factors in the accident.
Ms Treacy said there was no speed and that Mr Barski slowed down coming up to the junction.
Mr Barski had not taken any alcohol on the day and Ms Treacy, said that he had a flawless driving record and no previous convictions before the crash.
She said the defendant works as a kitchen porter and has been living in Ireland for the past 10 years.
“It was simply a momentary lapse in concentration. Mr Barski’s remorse over the death of his friend is genuine and he offers his sincere, deep apologies.”
Ms Treacy said that there had been an early plea in the case.
Judge Gerald Keys remanded Mr Barski on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to May 21.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.