A rickshaw driver has been charged over the death of a young mother-of-two who suffered catastrophic injuries in a crash after attending a Westlife concert in Dublin in September. Gabriel Pereira, a 37-year-old Brazilian national, appeared before Dublin District Court on November 4, where gardaí said he had been in Ireland for eight days before the incident.
Gardaí obtained instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge Pereira with dangerous driving causing the death of Danielle O'Keane, 37. He is also accused of endangering the lives of three other women during the same incident on the night of September 26 at North Wall Quay.
Details of the Incident
Ms O'Keane and three friends took a rickshaw as she was on her way to meet her husband after the gig, reports the Irish Mirror. In evidence, Garda Sergeant Mark O'Neill from Store Street Station told Judge Finan that the accused replied, "I don't think I did," when the dangerous driving causing death charge was put to him. He gave no response to the second offence.
Opposing bail, Sergeant O'Neill cited flight risk concerns after telling the court that the accused came to Ireland eight days before the incident on a travel visa. It is alleged that Pereira was in a cycle lane and made a "reckless manoeuvre" trying to leave it and merge into traffic, striking a concrete bollard on the ground. The court heard that Ms O'Keane went underneath the carriage and suffered "catastrophic injuries".
Court Proceedings and Bail Decision
Ms O'Keane was brought by ambulance to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital but passed away on October 1 after several days in intensive care. Cross-examination by defence counsel Luke Higgins BL established that Mr Pereira attended the Garda station by appointment to be charged, which Sergeant O'Neill accepted. Further directions from the DPP are awaited.
Mr Higgins stressed that his client had no previous history of bench warrants, and the sergeant accepted he had no evidence of any previous criminal activity by the accused. The sergeant also accepted that the accused's passport had been seized and that his address at the time of the incident, as well as his current residence, were known to gardaí.
Pleading for bail, counsel described the incident as extremely tragic, submitting, "it is not a case of intent, it is a case of recklessness". He stressed that Mr Pereira had acted appropriately since the incident by providing his information to gardaí, surrendering his passport, and contacting a solicitor.
Bail Conditions and Next Steps
In her ruling, Judge Finan said she had concerns regarding flight risk given the accused had not been long in the jurisdiction, but noted defence submissions that Mr Pereira has family who could support him. Emphasising the presumption of innocence, Judge Finan granted bail with a range of conditions including the requirement for a €20,000 independent surety.
Mr Pereira must remain in custody until a bailperson has been approved to secure his release pending trial. Once bail is taken up, he is prohibited from driving any motor vehicle, must reside at his current address, sign on twice daily at Store Street Garda Station, apply for any travel documents, provide a 24/7 contact phone number, and observe a nightly curfew between 11pm and 6am.
Judge Finan remanded the accused in custody, with consent to bail on these terms, to appear at Cloverhill District Court on November 11.
