Ireland Doctor fined over fatal M6 crash that killed his six-year-old daughter
On 8 February 2024, a six-year-old girl, Hana Meshkat, was fatally injured in a crash on the M6 motorway at Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath. Her father, Babak Meshkat, aged 46, was the accused, and she died nine days after the crash. He was charged after a garda investigation, with the charge reduced from dangerous driving causing death to careless driving causing death. He pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court and was fined €5,000 and banned from driving for 12 months, with the judge holding that a custodial sentence was not warranted, and the sentence was reported on 24 July 2026 (the article header gives 1 July 2026).
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- Where
- The crash happened on the motorway at Rochfortbridge, in Co Westmeath.
- When
- The crash happened on 8 February 2024.
- Sources disagree on the report date: the article header gives 1 July 2026, while the article's own timestamp reads 24 July 2026.
- Other details
- The victim, Hana Meshkat, was six years old and was the daughter of the accused, Babak Meshkat, aged 46.
- The victim died nine days after the crash.
- The accused cooperated with the investigation and has no previous convictions.
- Cause
- A tyre defect triggered the crash, with the tread of the right rear tyre delaminating.
- The car was travelling at 173 km/h four seconds before the crash, where the limit is 120 km/h.
- The child had unbuckled her seatbelt 60 seconds before the incident.
- Investigation
- Babak Meshkat was charged following a garda investigation into the crash.
- Charges
- The charge of dangerous driving causing death was reduced to careless driving causing death.
- In court
- Meshkat pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- He was fined €5,000 and banned from driving for 12 months.
- The judge held that a custodial sentence was not warranted.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe crash happened on the motorway at Rochfortbridge, in Co Westmeath. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe crash happened on 8 February 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- causeA tyre defect triggered the crash. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe tread of the right rear tyre delaminated. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe car was travelling at 173 km/h four seconds before the crash, where the limit is 120 km/h. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe child had unbuckled her seatbelt 60 seconds before the incident. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe charge of dangerous driving causing death was reduced to careless driving causing death. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBabak Meshkat was charged following a garda investigation into the crash. (thejournal.ie)
- courtMeshkat pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceHe was fined €5,000 and banned from driving for 12 months. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge held that a custodial sentence was not warranted. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe victim died nine days after the crash. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused cooperated with the investigation and has no previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jul2026Man spared jail after tyre defect triggered crash that fatally injured his daughter (6)
Reports the guilty plea, the reduced charge and the sentence handed down at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, including the court's findings on the causes of the crash.
convicted, Babak Meshkat, 46, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Babak Meshkatvictim, Hana Meshkat, 6, female, non-irish (judged from name)Hana Meshkat