A man accused of driving a vehicle in a hit and run that cost the life of a cyclist in his 80s was arrested by gardaí as he disembarked a flight from Poland, a court in Co Meath has been told.
Piotr Broniarczyk (42), who have an address in Poland, appeared before Trim District Court yesterday, Thursday, following the death of Edward 'Ned' McLoughlin in a hit and run while he was cycling in Batterstown, Co Meath, last Friday morning.
Mr Broniarczyk was charged with three alleged offences related to the fatal crash; failing to remain at the scene of the crash; failing to report an incident; failing to give assistance to Mr McLoughlin.
The accused man, a Polish national who works as a courier, was arrested by gardaí on Wednesday after he arrived in Dublin Airport on a flight from Poland.
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Judge Eirinn McKiernan was told by Garda Sgt Eoin Treacy he arrested Mr Broniarczyk after he flew in to Dublin to surrender himself in relation to the alleged offences now at the centre of the case.
Sgt Treacy said he arrested the accused on Wednesday just after 10.30am at Ashbourne Garda station and charged him with the three offences, with Mr Broniarczyk making no reply.
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He added in the course of the investigation since the fatal crash last Friday morning, gardaí made contact with Mr Broniarczyk in Poland and he then returned to Ireland of his own volition.
He works as a courier for a company with a presence in both Ireland and Poland, working 10 days in Ireland at a time before returning to Poland.
The Garda consented to a bail application, though Sgt Treacy stipulated it should involve a cash lodgement of €10,000, which the court was told could be provided by the accused's family.
The court was also told Mr Broniarczyk had surrendered his passport and had agreed to live with a friend in Dublin pending his trial. He had also offered a full account of the fatal incident during Garda interviews and gardaí believe he intended to face the case.
His wife was in court, as were relatives of the deceased. Mr Broniarczyk was granted bail and is set to appear in court again next Tuesday for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr McLoughlin (80s), who was a well-known figure in Co Meath and remained very active in keeping fit despite this age.
He was killed last Friday morning on the R156, close to Boardsmill National School in Batterstown, Co Meath, at 9.50am. A statement from the Garda last week said the driver of the vehicle failed to remain at the scene.
