Donegal man's minibus was speeding before fatal Derry crash, trial hears

The trial of a Donegal man charged with causing death by dangerous driving has heard from an expert witness that the minibus he was driving was travelling at approximately 55 mph just before the collision. 

Shane Declan Gallagher (30) from Rossbracken near the village of Manorcunningham in County Donegal has pleaded not guilty at Derry Crown Court to causing the death of forty-five years old motorcyclist  Gordon Curry by driving dangerously in the early hours of February 22, 2021. He has however pleaded guilty to causing Mr. Curry's death by careless driving.

At today's hearing an expert witness reviewed tacograph evidence from the minibus.

He concluded that both vehicles had turned on to the bottom deck of the Craigavon Bridge and the motorcycle driven by Mr Curry had passed the minibus.

The witness told the jury that there wasa gap between both vehicles as thley made their way along the Glendermot Road and onto the Glenshane Road. 

As they passed the entrance to Altnagelvin Hospital one set of traffic lights were green but the next set were red.

The jury heard the motorcycle stopped at the lights and at that point the minibus was travelling at 55mph.

The expert witness said that the driver of the minibus, Gallagher, then applied emergency brakes  but the bus struck the motorcycle while travelling at 46mph.

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He added that in his opinion if the bus had been travelling at 30mph there would have been time to stop before the collision occurred.

The trial continues.