Firm to deny two charges on fatal collision

A TRANSPORT company will plead not guilty to two charges relating to a road crash in which Vanessa McGarry, wife of Kilkenny …

A TRANSPORT company will plead not guilty to two charges relating to a road crash in which Vanessa McGarry, wife of Kilkenny hurler James McGarry, and Mary Lonergan, a mother of two, were killed.

The women died after their cars were involved in a collision with a lorry and two other vehicles at Kilfane, Co Kilkenny, on July 19th, 2007.

Nolan Transport and truck driver Rafal Luszacki appeared before Kilkenny District Court yesterday.

The court was told that Nolan Transport would also face “a significant number” of additional charges in relation to the incident.

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State solicitor Gerry Meaney told Judge William Harnett he had recently received direction from the Director of Public Prosecutions on the matter.

Mr Meaney said a significant number of charges were to proceed on indictment against Nolan Transport, whose truck was involved in the collision.

He told Judge Harnett that Mr Luszacki was to be dealt with on the summary charges already before the court.

Mr Luszacki is charged with failing to secure a load at Stroan, Kilfane, Co Kilkenny, on July 19th, 2007.

He is also charged with having an unlicensed semi-trailer, having no certificate of roadworthiness and failing to produce a certificate of roadworthiness.

Nolan Transport, Oaklands, New Ross, Co Wexford, is charged with being the owner of an unlicensed semi-trailer and with having no certificate of roadworthiness.

The court was told yesterday that the company would face additional charges before a higher court, which would be put to it ahead of its next court appearance.

Martin Lawlor, solicitor for Nolan Transport, told Judge Harnett that his client would be pleading not guilty to the existing charges before the District Court and he asked for a hearing date to be set.

Mr McGarry sat in court yesterday with other members of the victims’ families.

Conor Bass for Mr Luszacki asked that the case against his client be adjourned for one month for mention or plea.

Judge Harnett remanded both Mr Luszacki and Nolan Transport on continuing bail to appear again at Kilkenny District Court on March 10th.