Vladimar Kovac, a driver from Carrowshee Park in Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh, who drank at least five glasses of vodka before causing a high-speed collision, has been informed he faces a “significant” sentence. The accident resulted in the death of Barry McManus, a new father. Kovac appeared at Dungannon Crown Court and pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. The crash occurred on 11 June 2022, on the Belfast Road in Brookeborough. Kovac collided with McManus’ vehicle, which was parked on the hard shoulder. Experts determined that Kovac’s car crossed the opposite side of the road and onto the hard shoulder before colliding with McManus’s car, causing it to spin into a hedge.
Kovac’s accelerator pedal was fully pressed for five seconds before the collision, increasing the speed of his car from 80mph to 95mph. The experts concluded that there was no indication he applied the brakes. Kovac claimed that he had at least five glasses of vodka after arguing with his wife before driving. Judge Richard Greene KC asked Kovac how he felt about his actions. Kovac stated that he felt “very bad” and that his life had turned “180 degrees.”
In court, the prosecution presented a victim impact statement from McManus’s wife. The statement highlighted the difficulty of seeing Kovac and his family in the area while her husband was deceased. She also talked about the difficulties of raising their two small children. The judge said that he wanted to contemplate the case before determining a sentence. “This is a case in which the sentence will be measured in years and probably a significant number of years,” said the judge. “Given the inevitable outcome, you will be remanded in custody.” The sentencing is scheduled for 27 October.
This tragic event highlights the devastating consequences of drunk driving. It serves as a reminder that drinking and driving don’t mix. The individual decision to drink and drive can have a ripple effect on countless innocent lives. Barry McManus’s family and loved ones have suffered an excruciating loss that cannot be reversed. Let this be a cautionary tale and encourage people to seek help if they’re struggling with addiction or alcoholism
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