A 35-year-old man who was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of hugely popular GAA commentator Paudie Palmer has been jailed for six years.
Bohdan Bezverkhyi, who is a native of Ukraine but has an address at Rigsdale House in Ballinhassig, Co Cork had denied dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Palmer (65) at Dunkereen Cross, Innishannon, Cork on December 29th, 2022.
Mr Palmer was a native of Kenmare in Co Kerry. The accident occurred just 500 metres from the home of the commentator who was employed by 96FM and 103FM.
The much loved father of two was hospitalised in the aftermath of the crash. However, he died at Cork University Hospital on January 8th 2023.
Mr Palmer was killed when Mr Bezverkhyi went through a stop sign crashing into his car before fleeing the scene in his vehicle. He was subsequently arrested.
At the sentencing hearing at the Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday, Judge Jonathan Dunphy described as an “aggravating factor” a video made by Mr Bezverkhyi the day before the crash where he recorded himself driving at speeds of 200 kilometres per hour in Curraheen, Co Cork.
Victim impact statement
Claire Palmer-Panagiodis, a daughter of the late Mr Palmer, made a victim impact statement. She said that she was heartbroken that the life of her father was cut short prematurely.
She spoke of her upset that Paudie didn’t live long enough to walk her down the aisle at her wedding. Claire said that having your father escort you down the aisle on your big day was “every girl’s dream.”
Instead, Claire placed a buttonhole of flowers on the grave of her father on her wedding day. She said it was “utterly distressing” that her mother Colette hadn’t been able to pin the flowers on the suit of Paudie on the special day because his life had been ended by the dangerous driving of Mr Bezverkhyi.
Claire told Judge Dunphy that great pain had been caused by suggestions by the defence during the trial last month that her father was somehow to blame for what happened.
“To hear our father being blamed for this incident was very offensive," she said.
"(He was) a man who had only the respect of every single person he came in contact with.
Not just the county but the entire country grieved when they heard the news of Dad’s tragic passing – 'a pillar of society', 'the voice of Cork'."
"Just moments before this accident, after spending his first and last Christmas with his first beloved grandchild, Lucas, he left our home to meet a work colleague for a simple coffee and a catch-up."
"He shared his usual morning moment with my mother with a big wave goodbye and a cheeky smile. He was struck by a vehicle that then left the scene only 500 metres from our family house, never to return alive again."
"To hear our father being blamed for this accident is hurtful and even at this late stage, if the accused man had shown any sign of remorse and could at least realise the effect his actions have had...it would be some comfort. But this remorse has never been seen."
Cornerstone
Claire said that her father was the “cornerstone” of their close-knit family.
“Our mentor, supporter and guiding star. His wisdom shaped who we are as adults. His death has left a void in our identities and lives. As a result of Dad’s sudden and horrific departure, our family dynamics have shifted significantly.
“I got married to my own best friend and now husband, Nicolas, several weeks ago, having postponed last year’s date following those heartbreaking few months before. Not having your father walk you down the aisle, which is every girl’s dream, was simply heartbreaking.
Having to place my father’s buttonhole of flowers on his grave instead of my mother pinning it to his suit was utterly distressing, on a day that should have been the happiest day in our family’s lives.
“Our mother has had to forcefully put on a brave face to tell us all we’ll be okay while she’s struggling so deeply herself.”
Claire said that her son Lucas, who was only three months old when Paudie was killed, was in an instant “deprived of not just a grandfather but one of the greatest role models he could ever have had.”
Mr Palmer's brother Johnny also made a victim impact statement. He said the family found it incomprehensible that Mr Bezverkhyi had opted to leave the scene of crash.
"What makes it even worse is the fact that the guilty party drove away from the scene of the accident leaving our brother fatally injured in his overturned car on an embankment."
"The guilty party then admitted to his mother and friends in text messages that he had ‘left the scene of the traffic accident drunk.' It is very clear to us from transcripts of the guilty party’s text messages, that he was only concerned about himself and demonstrates no concern whatsoever for our poor brother Paudie."
"The guilty party went through a stop sign, causing Paudie’s car to spin and collide with the embankment, admitted in text messages that he was drunk, drove away from the scene of the accident and then refused to plead guilty to the charge of dangerous driving causing death."
John said he and his brothers Denis and Richie can no longer turn to their eldest sibling for advice and guidance.
Magic commentary
He said that GAA games have a different meaning now, and they will never hear that “magic commentary” on the airwaves again.
John added that Paudie had the ability to turn “a bad game in to a good game.”
Defence counsel Seamus Roche, SC, said in mitigation that his client was without previous convictions.
Judge Dunphy offered his condolences to the family of the deceased and applauded their strength. He disqualified Mr Bezverkhyi from driving for ten years and jailed him for seven and a half years suspending the last year and a half of the sentence. The sentence was backdated to when he entered custody.
Meanwhile, the trial heard that Mr Bezverkhyi admitted to his mother and his friends in texts messages just hours after the collision that he had “left the scene of a traffic accident drunk.”
Texts sent in Russian in the aftermath of the crash were translated in to English and presented as evidence to the jury.
The texts were translated by translator Liudmilla Ladchenko. In one text the accused said “It is not funny to me. I will be jailed.
Left the scene of a traffic accident. They will take me in now. They will come and get me.”
One friend asked if he had hit anyone. He replied — “I did.” He asked another person for guidance via a text message.
“I got in a to a car accident. Advise me what to do. I am in the wrong 100%. I drove off. I was drunk. There is no excuse for me. I am guilty of all.
Text messages
He said via text that he was “blaming” himself and when asked by a friend why he hadn’t gone to the police he replied “because I am not sober.”
Mr Bezverkhyi also exchanged text messages with his mother in which he said that he would hand himself in the following day.
His mother told him to put a “remnant of soap”in his pocket when he handed himself in to police.
In one of the texts he said that he had “left the scene of accident. Was pissed. Nevertheless, need to surrender to the garbage. I don’t see any other way out. I think this is the most correct option.”
His daughter Claire told the hundreds who had gathered for the funeral that her father had adored the newborn.
"Dad was looking forward to this year for so many reasons but being able to see his grand son Lucas grow and learn made his day. And that has now been robbed from us and him.
There has been a piece of all three of us lost forever more. Dad although you cannot be with us anymore you can rest easy knowing that your three girls will be well minded having such as close knit family rallying around us.”
Chief celebrant Fr Finbarr Crowley described Paudie as having a multitude of gifts. He said that Palmer brought a “palpable sense of joy” to his commentating.
"Whether it was for C103FM from some unknown village in Co Cork or senior hurling final it made no difference to Paudie or his listeners because we all lived the excitement. But above all what Paudie got was that sense of community. The joy that a small village could celebrate a victory the same as the biggest club in Ireland could celebrate a victory.
"I don't think he realised what it did for every single community."
Mr Palmer is survived by his wife Colette, his daughters Claire and Emily, his three brothers, extended family and friends. The retired teacher was an uncle of Claudine Keane, who is the wife of former Ireland International Robbie Keane.
