Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20469Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Cork · 1 Jul 2023

Man charged over fatal Fermoy crash, Co Cork

On Saturday 1 July 2023 at about 8.40pm, a car in which Ihor Skokivski (29), a Ukrainian man living in Fermoy, was a rear-seat passenger collided with another car on McCurtain Street, Fermoy, Co Cork. Mr Skokivski was critically injured and died in Cork University Hospital the following evening, Sunday 2 July, and the female driver of the other car was seriously injured. The driver of the first car, Iulian Lotca (37), a Moldovan man, was arrested and on Monday 3 July was charged at Mallow District Court with dangerous driving causing death, driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance. The judge refused him bail and he was remanded in custody to appear again on 4 July by video link.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged3 Jul
    2 reports
  4. In court3 Jul
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 37-year-old Moldovan man, Iulian Lotca, was charged over a fatal two-car collision in Fermoy, Co Cork.
  • The victim, a 29-year-old Ukrainian man living in Fermoy, was a rear-seat passenger in Lotca's car, and sources spell his name Skokivski, Skokinsk or Skokivsky.
Where
The collision happened on McCurtain Street in Fermoy, Co Cork.
When
The collision happened at about 8.40pm on Saturday 1 July 2023.
Other details
  • The victim was critically injured and died in Cork University Hospital on Sunday 2 July.
  • The female driver of the other car, described by one source as a Polish woman and by another as a local woman, both in her 50s, was seriously injured and taken to Cork University Hospital; the front-seat passenger in Lotca's car was also injured and taken to hospital.
Cause
Gardaí would allege Lotca was driving with excess alcohol and excessive speed when his car crossed onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into the other car.
Investigation
  • Gardaí arrested the driver of the car the victim was in and detained him under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Co Cork.
  • Lotca made full admissions at interview, including that his driving was reckless at the time of the collision.
  • Several witnesses have been identified, gardaí are appealing for dash-cam or other camera footage from the McCurtain Street area, and investigations are ongoing.
Charges
Lotca was charged with dangerous driving causing death, driving with excess alcohol (an alleged 59 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath against a limit of 22) and driving without insurance.
In court
  • Lotca appeared before Mallow District Court on Monday 3 July 2023, where gardaí objected to bail and the judge refused it.
  • Lotca was remanded in custody to appear again on 4 July by video link, and was granted free legal aid.
Sentence
The dangerous driving causing death charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years' imprisonment.
77 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man (37) was remanded in custody after being charged over a road crash in north Cork in which another man died. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIhor Skokivski, a Ukrainian living in Fermoy, was a rear-seat passenger in Lotca's car when it crashed. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe male passenger in one car was critically injured and later died. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatThe female driver of the other car was seriously injured. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatThe woman driver of the second vehicle is in Cork University Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatThe passenger, Ihor Skokivsky, was a Ukrainian national in the accused's car. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatThe passenger was seriously injured and died in Cork University Hospital. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatA woman in her 50s in the other vehicle was taken to Cork University Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe crash happened in Co Cork. (extra.ie)
  • whereThe collision happened on McCurtain Street in Fermoy. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe crash happened on McCurtain Street, Fermoy, Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe collision happened in Fermoy, County Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe crash happened on McCurtain Street in Fermoy, Co Cork. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe collision happened at 8.40pm on a Saturday. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe crash happened on Saturday, July 1st. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe collision happened on a Saturday evening, at about 8.40pm. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe crash happened on the Saturday before the report. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe fatal crash happened on Saturday 1 July 2023. (corkbeo.ie)
  • causeGardaí would allege Lotca was driving with excess alcohol and at excessive speed. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeLotca crossed onto the incorrect side of the road and crashed into another car. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeGardaí would allege the accused was driving with excessive speed and excessive alcohol when he crossed onto the wrong side of the road. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí would allege excessive speed and excessive alcohol, with the car crossing onto the wrong side of the road. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationEvidence of arrest, charge and caution was outlined at the district court. (rte.ie)
  • investigationSeveral witnesses to the two-car collision were identified. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationLotca made full admissions at interview, including that his driving was reckless at the time of the collision. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí arrested the driver of the car the passenger was in. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThe arrested driver was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Co. Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and for dash-cam or other camera footage from the McCurtain Street area. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThe accused made full admissions at interview after his arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationLotca was caught at the scene and made full admissions at interview. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeA man has been charged by gardaí. (extra.ie)
  • chargeLotca was charged with dangerous driving causing death. (rte.ie)
  • chargeLotca was also charged with driving without insurance. (rte.ie)
  • chargeLotca was also charged with driving while exceeding the alcohol limit. (rte.ie)
  • chargeLotca was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Ihor Skokivski. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLotca was charged with driving with excess alcohol on the same date. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLotca was charged with a third offence of driving without insurance. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe arrested man has since been charged in relation to the fatal collision. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Ihor Skokivsky. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was also charged with driving with excess alcohol in his system. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was also charged with driving without insurance. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeIulian Lotca was charged with dangerous driving causing death. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeLotca was also charged with driving with excess alcohol in his system. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeLotca was also charged with driving without insurance at the same location. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtLotca appeared before Mallow District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge refused bail. (rte.ie)
  • courtLotca was remanded in custody to appear again the next day by video link. (rte.ie)
  • courtLotca appeared at Mallow District Court on Monday morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGardaí objected to bail because of the seriousness of the charges and the strength of the evidence. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGardaí objected to bail on the grounds that Lotca had no ties to Ireland and might abscond. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge refused Lotca bail. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtLotca was granted free legal aid. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe charged man is due to appear before Mallow District Court. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtThe accused appeared before Mallow District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGardaí objected to bail. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the charges were too serious to grant bail. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • courtThe accused was remanded in custody to appear again on 4 July by video link. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtLotca appeared before Mallow District Court and was charged. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtGardaí objected to bail, citing the gravity of the charges and the strength of the evidence. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtGardaí said Lotca might abscond because he has no permanent living space. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtLotca was remanded in custody to appear again on July 4th by video link. (corkbeo.ie)
  • sentenceThe dangerous driving causing death charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherA man in his 20s died following the crash. (extra.ie)
  • otherSkokinsk died in hospital the evening after the collision. (rte.ie)
  • otherSkokinsk was a rear passenger in the car that collided with another car. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe female driver of the other car was injured and taken to hospital. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe front seat passenger in Lotca's car was injured and taken to hospital. (rte.ie)
  • otherLotca made no reply to any of the three charges when they were put to him after caution. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSkokivski suffered serious injuries and died in Cork University Hospital the following day. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe driver of the other car, a Polish woman in her 50s, was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherInvestigations are ongoing. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe charge alleges an alcohol concentration of 59 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe legal limit is 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherFree legal aid was granted in the case. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe victim was a back seat passenger in the accused's car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim was taken to Cork University Hospital, where he died on the Sunday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge directed that Lotca receive any necessary psychiatric assistance in prison. (corkbeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Jul2023
    In courtcorkbeo.ie, first report
    Man charged over fatal crash in Fermoy that left a woman seriously injured

    Reports the charges against the accused, the court appearance and remand in custody, the alleged alcohol and speed factors, and the death of the passenger in hospital.

    accused, Iulian Lotca, 37, male, namedIulian Lotcavictim, Ihor Skokivsky, 29, male, Ukrainian, non-irishIhor Skokivskyvictim, 50s, female
  2. 3 Jul2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man charged with dangerous driving after Ukrainian killed in horror Cork crash

    First report of the case. Adds the charges (dangerous driving causing death, excess alcohol, no insurance), the alleged alcohol reading, the victim's identity and nationality, the bail objections and the remand to 4 July.

    accused, Iulian Lotca, 37, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Iulian Lotcavictim, Ihor Skokivsky, 29, male, Ukrainian, non-irishIhor Skokivsky
  3. 3 Jul2023
    Chargedcorkbeo.ie, follow-up
    Man arrested after fatal road accident in North Cork town

    First report of a fatal collision in Fermoy: the driver of the car carrying the fatally injured passenger was arrested, detained and charged, and the female driver of the other car was seriously injured.

    victim, 20s, maleaccused, late 30s, malevictim, 50s, female
  4. 3 Jul2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man remanded in custody over fatal Cork crash

    Reports the charges against Iulian Lotca, the court appearance at Mallow District Court, the refusal of bail and the garda evidence, including the passenger's death and the injured driver of the other car.

    accused, Iulian Lotca, 37, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishIulian Lotcavictim, Ihor Skokivski, 29, Ukrainian, non-irishIhor Skokivskivictim, 50s, female, Polish, non-irish
  5. 3 Jul2023
    In courtrte.ie, follow-up
    Man charged over fatal crash in Cork

    Gives the accused's age and nationality (Moldovan), the victim's age, sex and nationality (Ukrainian), the spelling 'Skokinsk', the other charges (no insurance, alcohol limit), the bail refusal and remand in custody, and that the other driver and Lotca's front seat passenger were injured.

    accused, Iulian Lotca, 37, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishIulian Lotcavictim, Ihor Skokinsk, 29, male, Ukrainian, non-irishIhor Skokinskvictim, femalevictim
  6. 3 Jul2023
    Chargedextra.ie, follow-up
    Man In His 20s Dies Following Horror Co Cork Road Crash As Man Charged By Gardai

    The article body is unusable template code. Only the headline states the death in a Co Cork road crash and the charge. It matches existing case 20469 (fatal Fermoy crash, Co Cork, man charged), though the headline gives no date, location or names.

    victim, 20s, maleaccused, male