A 28-year-old father-of-two has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a popular GAA coach.
Aaron McColgan appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court in Co Donegal today.
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Mr John ‘Rustard’ McLaughlin at Strandhead, Malin on February 20th, 2017.
Mr McLaughlin, a father of three, who was in his late 30s, was killed on his way to assist with GAA training with his club Malin on the evening he died.
The accused man, who is from Culkeeny in Malin, only spoke to reply ‘guilty’ when he was being arraigned.
His barrister, Mr Damien Colgan.SC, said his client was arrested a short distance away from the scene.
He said that he made a plea at the earliest possible time which the court accepted.
The court was also told that Mr McColgan has one previous conviction for being ‘drunk-in-charge of a vehicle in 2007.
Members of the late Mr McLaughlin’s family were in court for the arraignment.
Judge John Aylmer adjourned the case for sentence until October 27th and ordered a probation report and also allowed for any other psychiatric reports needed in the case.
He warned both Mr McColgan and the late Mr McLaughlin’s family that because of Covid there may be a delay in preparing a probation report.