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. 19880Fatal road traffic collision · Co. Limerick · 18 Mar 2022

Man charged over fatal Limerick collision near Rathkeale

A man in his 50s was arrested and charged over a fatal collision on 18 March 2022 between an articulated truck and a car in Killeheen, on the N21 near Rathkeale, County Limerick. The truck was driven by Arthurs Birynieks, a Latvian man, who was the sole occupant and was killed, and the driver of the car was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The man was arrested and charged in September 2023, more than a year after the crash, and appeared before Newcastle West District Court on Friday 8 September 2023. He was remanded on bail, with reports giving his next court date as early December or as 8 December.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court8 Sep
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man in his 50s was arrested and charged in connection with a fatal collision between an articulated truck and a car.
Where
The collision took place in the townland of Killeheen on the main N21 road close to Rathkeale, County Limerick.
When
  • The collision happened in the early hours of 18 March 2022.
  • The arrest and charge came more than a year after the crash, reported as 18 months by one source.
Other details
  • The victim, Arthurs Birynieks, a Latvian man, was the sole occupant and driver of the truck and was killed.
  • The victim was reported to have left a wife and two children, living in Knock, County Mayo.
  • The truck was carrying thousands of chickens and was travelling from Newcastle West, while the car was coming from the opposite direction.
  • The driver of the car was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at University Hospital Limerick.
Investigation
Gardaí issued a statement announcing the arrest and charge of a man in his 50s.
In court
  • The man appeared before Newcastle West District Court shortly after 10.30am on Friday 8 September 2023.
  • He was remanded on bail, with one source saying he will appear again in early December and another saying on December 8.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man was arrested and charged in connection with a fatal car crash in Rathkeale. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe crash involved a truck and a car in Killeheen, Rathkeale. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe collision took place in the townland of Killeheen on the main N21 road close to Rathkeale. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe crash happened in the early hours of 18 March 2022. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe collision happened in the early hours of March 18, 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeA man in his 50s was arrested and charged in relation to the fatal car crash. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeA man has been arrested and charged in relation to a fatal road traffic collision in County Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe man appeared before Newcastle West District Court shortly after 10.30am on Friday 8 September. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe man was remanded on bail and will appear again in early December. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe man appeared before Newcastle West District Court on the Friday morning. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtHe was remanded on bail to appear again on December 8. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe victim was the sole occupant of the truck he was driving. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe victim left a wife and two children, who were reported to be living in Knock, County Mayo. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe driver of the car was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at University Hospital Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe collision involved an articulated truck and a car. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe truck was transporting thousands of chickens. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe man charged is in his 50s. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Sep2023
    In courtlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Man arrested and charged in relation to fatal Limerick collision

    First report of the arrest and charge of a man in his 50s over the March 2022 fatal collision at Killeheen, Rathkeale. He was remanded on bail to appear again on December 8.

    accused, 50s, male
  2. 8 Sep2023
    In courtlimerickpost.ie, follow-up
    Man charged in connection with fatal road crash in West Limerick town

    Reports the arrest, charge and first court appearance over the March 2022 Rathkeale fatal crash, and that the accused was remanded on bail to early December.

    victim, Arthurs Birynieks, male, Latvian, non-irishArthurs Birynieksaccused, 50s, male