Ireland Man jailed for dangerous driving causing death of GAA commentator Paudie Palmer
On 29 December 2022 at Dunkereen Cross, Innishannon, Co Cork, Bohdan Bezverkhyi, a native of Ukraine reported as 35 (one report says 33), went through a stop sign and crashed into a car driven by Paudie Palmer, a 65-year-old man from Kenmare, Co Kerry, who had the right of way. Palmer was seriously injured and died in Cork University Hospital on 8 January 2023. Bezverkhyi was arrested after the crash, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death, and was found guilty. On 2 May 2024 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court he was sentenced to seven and a half years with the final 18 months suspended, which some reports describe as six years in jail, and was disqualified from driving for ten years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced2 May
3 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Bohdan Bezverkhyi was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of GAA commentator Paudie Palmer.
- Where
- The collision happened at Dunkereen Cross, Innishannon, Co Cork, about 500 metres from Palmer's home.
- When
- The collision happened on 29 December 2022, and Palmer died in Cork University Hospital on 8 January 2023.
- Cause
- Bezverkhyi went through a stop sign and crashed into Palmer's car, which had the right of way, causing it to spin into an embankment.
- Investigation
- Bezverkhyi drove away from the scene and was arrested after the crash.
- In texts sent after the crash, Bezverkhyi said he was drunk and admitted fault.
- Charges
- Bezverkhyi was charged with dangerous driving causing death and pleaded not guilty before being found guilty.
- In court
- The judge described a video of Bezverkhyi driving at 200 km/h the day before the crash as an aggravating factor.
- Defence counsel said Bezverkhyi had no previous convictions.
- Sentencing took place on Thursday 2 May 2024 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Jonathan Dunphy.
- Sentence
- Reports differ: one says he was jailed for six years, while another says a seven-and-a-half-year term with the last 18 months suspended, backdated to when he entered custody.
- Bezverkhyi was disqualified from driving for ten years.
- Other details
- Palmer, a father of two who taught at St Brogan's College in Bandon, was a native of Kenmare, Co Kerry.
34 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBohdan Bezverkhyi, 35, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Paudie Palmer. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe convicted man was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of Paudie Palmer. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe collision happened at Dunkereen Cross, Innishannon, Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe crash happened at Dunkereen Cross, Innishannon, Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe fatal crash happened at Dunkereen Cross, Innishannon, Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe collision happened on 29 December 2022. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe crash happened on December 29, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe crash happened on 29 December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenPalmer died in Cork University Hospital on 8 January 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- causeBezverkhyi went through a stop sign and crashed into Palmer's car, which had the right of way. (corkbeo.ie)
- causePalmer was killed when Bezverkhyi went through a stop sign and crashed into his car before fleeing the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe other driver went through a stop sign, causing Palmer's car to spin and collide with an embankment. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationBezverkhyi fled the scene and was later arrested. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationIn texts after the crash, Bezverkhyi admitted he was drunk. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationBezverkhyi was arrested after the crash. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBezverkhyi was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe judge described a video of Bezverkhyi driving at 200 km/h the day before the crash as an aggravating factor. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtDefence counsel said Bezverkhyi had no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe convicted man had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing hearing took place at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on a Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBezverkhyi was jailed for seven and a half years, with the last year and a half suspended. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceBezverkhyi was disqualified from driving for ten years. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when Bezverkhyi entered custody. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe man was jailed for six years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Jonathan Dunphy set a headline sentence of seven and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge said he would suspend the final 18 months of the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPalmer died at Cork University Hospital on 8 January 2023. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherBezverkhyi had no previous convictions. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherPalmer was a native of Kenmare in Co Kerry. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherPalmer died at Cork University Hospital on January 8th 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe trial heard that Bezverkhyi admitted to his mother and friends in texts just hours after the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA victim impact statement says the convicted man admitted in text messages that he was drunk. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe convicted man drove away from the scene, according to the victim impact statement. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe convicted man had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 2 May2024Man jailed for six years for dangerous driving causing the death of sports commentator Paudie Palmer
Sentencing report. The article gives the convicted man's age as 35 in the lead and as 33 in the body. It also reports that the judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence.
convicted, Bohdan Bezverkhyi, 33, male, namedBohdan Bezverkhyivictim, Paudie Palmer, 65, male, irish (judged from name)Paudie Palmer - 2 May2024Man jailed for dangerous driving causing death of GAA commentator Paudie Palmer
Sentencing report. The article gives two different custodial terms: six years in the opening lines and seven and a half years with the last year and a half suspended later on. It adds the judge's remarks on the 200km/h video, the victim impact statements, and the ten-year driving ban.
convicted, Bohdan Bezverkhyi, 35, male, namedBohdan Bezverkhyivictim, Paudie Palmer, 65, male, irish (judged from name)Paudie Palmer - 2 May2024Man jailed for six years for causing death of GAA commentator Paudie Palmer
Sentencing report: six-year jail term (seven and a half years with the last year and a half suspended, backdated to custody), ten-year driving ban, victim impact statements, and details from texts the accused sent after the crash.
convicted, Bohdan Bezverkhyi, 35, male, namedBohdan Bezverkhyivictim, Paudie Palmer, 65, male, irish (judged from name)Paudie Palmer