A MAN CHARGED today with dangerous driving causing the death of a pedestrian outside a primary school in Limerick City, replied to the charge, “I feel like a murderer”, a court heard.

Danny Connors, (30), Clondrinagh Halting Site, Ennis Road, Limerick, wept as he appeared before Limerick District Court with a total of eight offences arising out of the fatal “hit and run”, which occurred at Ennis Road, Limerick, last Tuesday, 26 November.

Mr Connors is facing one count of dangerous driving causing the death of James Forde, 50s, from Shannamore Park, Clareview, Limerick.

He is also facing three counts of dangerous driving; two counts of “hit and run” in which he allegedly failed to remain at the scene and failed to render assistance to Mr Forde, knowing he was dead or seriously injured.

Mr Connors is also charged with driving without insurance and driving without a driver’s licence, at the same location on the same date.

Garda Dermot Hallett, Roads Policing Unit, Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick, gave evidence of arresting and putting Mr Connor’s under caution after charging him with the eight offences.

Garda Hallett told the court Mr Connors replied after caution: “I wish it was me instead of that poor man.”

The accused also told the garda: “My heart almost burst with the fright, I never thought something like this would happen and I feel like a murderer, to be honest.”

“Since the day I broke that law, I’m doing a life sentence, to be honest,” Mr Connors also said in response to Garda Hallett.

“I’m doing a life sentence in my head and I’m extremely sorry to that family and I never want for it to happen,” he also told Garda Hallett.

The accused also replied to the charges: “My sincerest apologies…I’m very sorry to the family and to the deceased man, I never thought I would do this to someone, and to be honest, I feel like a murderer”.

“Sorry, I’ve no words…I’m heartbroken over what happened to that man,” Mr Connors also replied.

Garda Hallett objected to bail on the nature and strength of the evidence and the seriousness of the offences before the court.

During a contested bail hearing, Garda Hallett alleged that at around 1.34pm last Tuesday, Danny Connors drove a red Ford Focus at “very high speed” through a red light at a pedestrian crossing “directly outside a primary school, close to finishing time, as parents gathered to collect their children”.

Garda Hallett alleged Mr Connors had driven at speed from Roses Avenue, Ennis Road, “failing to give way to oncoming traffic which had the right of way and he forced these vehicles to stop”.

Garda Hallett alleged Mr Connor’s Ford Focus was “straggling the continuous white line” on the road, and “swerving” as it traveled towards the pedestrian crossing where the fatal hit and run occurred.

“Good quality” video footage from a Garda-operated CCTV camera shows Mr Forde approaching the pedestrian crossing, pressing the walking man button, and waiting for it to turn green, the garda told the court.

Garda Hallett alleged the CCTV footage shows Mr Connors driving the Ford Focus “at speed through the pedestrian crossing and colliding with James Forde, who became airborne in the collision”.

After the collision Mr Forde’s body “remained lifeless on the ground”, Garda Hallett said.

The garda further alleged that Mr Connors “abandoned” the Ford Focus near his home address and “evaded gardai for a number of hours afterwards”.

Mr Connors later met with gardai by appointment at his home and made a number of admissions under caution, Garda Hallett alleged.

Objecting to bail, Garda Hallett said it was the “strong belief” of gardai that Mr Connors “would commit further serious offences” if granted bail, and there would be “a risk of further loss of life” to the general public if the accused was given bail.

Mr Connor’s solicitor John Herbert said he had “no dispute about the facts that were read out” by Garda Hallett.

Mr Herbert said Mr Connors “did make contact with gardai, and he made full admissions”.

The solicitor said his instructions from Mr Connors were that the accused would abide by any bail conditions imposed by the court.

Prosecuting Sergeant, Sean Murray, Roxboro Road Garda Station, said Mr Connors alleged actions on the day were “dangerous in the extreme”.

Sergeant Murray reiterated the garda objections to bail, and alleged that granting bail would pose a “danger to the public”.

Judge John King said the charges were “very serious” and he refused bail saying the “threshold” for the Garda’s bail objections had been met.

The judge remanded Mr Connors in custody to appear before Limerick District Court for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions, on December 3rd.