Ireland Case No. 4150Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Monaghan · 18 Dec 2025
Romanian truck driver remanded over death of mother of two on N2 near Castleblayney
Emma Mackarel, a 37-year-old Irish mother of two from Clones, Co Monaghan, died when her car collided with a lorry on the N2 at Annalitten, outside Castleblayney, at about 8am on Thursday 18 December 2025. The lorry driver, Romanian national Ion Bucurica, 56, was arrested at the scene and charged with dangerous driving causing death. He appeared before Monaghan District Court on 5 January 2026 and was remanded in custody until 12 January. On 12 January, bail was denied on the grounds that he was a flight risk with no ties to the State, and he was remanded until 26 January, with Gardaí indicating the possibility of further serious charges.
- Reported19 Dec
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 Jan
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Emma Mackarel, a 37-year-old Irish mother of two from Clones, Co Monaghan, died when her car collided with a lorry on the N2.
- Where
- The collision occurred at about 8am on the N2 at Mullaghnee, Annalitten, outside Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
- When
- The crash occurred on Thursday 18 December 2025.
- Investigation
- Romanian national Ion Bucurica, aged 56, was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
- Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage from the N2 between Castleblayney and Broomfield between 7.30am and 8.15am on 18 December.
- Charges
- Bucurica was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Emma Mackarel.
- In court
- He appeared via video link before Monaghan District Court on 5 January 2026 and was remanded in custody until 12 January.
- On 12 January 2026, bail was denied on the grounds that he was a flight risk, and he was remanded until 26 January 2026.
- Other details
- Bucurica has a wife and children in France, where he has lived for the past 30 years, and the judge described him as a man with no ties to the State.
- Garda Niamh McColgan told the court there was the possibility of further serious charges in the case.
- Emma Mackarel was originally from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, and worked as a training co-ordinator with an electrical company.
- Her funeral was held at Stonebridge Presbyterian Church in Gransha More, Clones, on 21 December 2025.
49 statements extracted from the articles
- whatEmma Mackarel was a 37-year-old mother of two from Clones who died in a collision with a lorry on the N2. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe lorry driver was a foreign national in his 50s who was arrested and remained in Garda custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe driver of the car, a female in her 30s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNo other injuries were reported at the time. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe was the sole occupant of the car and was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIon Bucurica is a Romanian national, aged 56. (irishtimes.com)
- whereEmma was from Latgallan in Clones. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe collision occurred at about 8am on the N2 at Mullaghnee, Annalitten, outside Castleblayney. (irishtimes.com)
- whereEmma Mackarel was from Latgallan, Clones, Co Monaghan. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe crash occurred on the N2 near Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe collision occurred at approximately 8am on Thursday 18 December 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe crash occurred on Thursday, 18 December 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage from the N2 between Castleblayney and Broomfield between 7.30am and 8.15am. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man in his 50s was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe road was closed pending a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGarda Insp Damien Martin gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and said gardaí were objecting to bail. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for dashcam footage from road users on the N2 between Castleblayney and Broomfield between 7:30am and 8:15am on 18 December. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeIon Bucurica was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Emma Mackarel. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBucurica appeared via video link before Monaghan District Court on Monday 5 January 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Raymond Finnegan further remanded him in custody until 12 January. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence solicitor Roisin Courtney said he was not seeking bail at that point but would apply on 12 January. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Gerry Jones extended legal aid to cover Romanian translation services. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBucurica appeared before Monaghan District Court on 12 January 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail was denied due to Garda fears he would be a flight risk. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGarda Niamh McColgan said there was the possibility of further serious charges in the case. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Raymond Finnegan remanded Bucurica into further custody until Monday, 26 January 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge described the defendant as a man with no ties to the State. (irishtimes.com)
- otherEmma was the third person to die on Ireland's roads in 12 hours. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherEmma's funeral was held at Stonebridge Presbyterian Church in Gransha More, Clones, on 21 December 2025 at 2pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherEmma was well known throughout the Clones and Smithboro areas of Monaghan. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSmithboro Sinn Féin councillor Sinead Flynn knew Emma personally and paid tribute. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherEmma was the daughter of John and Linda McClean, predeceased by her grandmother Jean McClean. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherEmma is mourned by her husband Andrew, daughter Eva, son Alec, sister Donna and brother David. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe body was removed to the mortuary at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, for a post-mortem. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis address is in Le Bouscat, Bordeaux, France. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHer body was removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe was originally from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe is survived by husband Andrew and daughter Eva and son Alec. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe was a training co-ordinator with an electrical company. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBucurica had been working as a lorry driver. (irishtimes.com)
- otherInspector Damien Martin told the court the defendant had no links to the State. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBucurica has a wife and children in France, where he has lived for the past 30 years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant accepted he was the driver involved in the fatal collision. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí believed some information was still being withheld by the defendant. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHis solicitor Roisin Courtney said efforts were being made to secure accommodation in Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe would hand up all his travel documents if released on bail. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had not applied for bail until now as a show of respect to Emma Mackarel as her funeral had taken place over the Christmas holiday season. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBucurica said his usual route was France to Ireland and then Ireland back to France. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBucurica said he would be back to work after the holidays if the collision had not happened. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Jan2026Truck driver charged with dangerous driving causing the death of mother of two
First court appearance; bail denied due to flight risk; remanded until 26 January 2026; Gardaí indicated possibility of further serious charges.
victim, Emma Mackarel, 37, female, irish (judged from name)Emma Mackarelaccused, Ion Bucurica, 56, male, Romanian, named, non-irishIon Bucurica - 5 Jan2026Truck driver remanded on charge of dangerous driving causing death of woman before Christmas
Details the 5 January 2026 court appearance where Bucurica was further remanded until 12 January; provides victim's background (originally from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, training co-ordinator, survived by husband Andrew and children Eva and Alec), precise crash location (Mullaghnee, Annalitten), and Garda appeal for dashcam footage from the N2 between Castleblayney and Broomfield.
victim, Emma Mackarel, 37, female, Irish, irishEmma Mackarelsuspect, Ion Bucurica, 56, male, Romanian, named, non-irishIon Bucurica - 19 Dec2025Young mum killed in N2 crash hailed as 'absolute lady' by heartbroken friends
Provides tributes from friends and community, funeral details, family information, and Garda appeal for witnesses and dash-cam footage from the N2 between Castleblayney and Broomfield.
victim, Emma Mackarel, 37, female, irish (judged from name)Emma Mackarelsuspect, 50s, male, non-irish (judged from name)