A 22-year old man currently serving a four year jail term for the dangerous driving causing the death of a GAA coach now faces the prospect of additional time in prison.
This follows Rene Miko formerly of Place de Plouzane, Kilrush, Co Clare today at Ennis Circuit Court pleading guilty to the sexual assault of a then 18 year old female at a house on October 9th/10th 2015.
The sexual assault by Mr Miko – who was 18 at the time – took place just over one year before a twice over the legal drink driving limit Mr Miko knocked down and killed pedestrian, Eugene McNamara (42) on October 26th 2016.
Mr Miko is currently serving a six year jail term with the final two years suspended imposed last March for the dangerous driving causing the death of Mr McNamara.
Mr Miko was driving at a speed of 120kmph when the BMW car he took without permission struck Mr McNamara who was walking on a footpath at a roundabout in a built up area in Ennis at 10.05pm on the night.
Eugene McNamara came from a proud GAA tradition as his brother, Stephen is a double All-Ireland winner with Clare’s hurlers from the 1990s while his uncle, Ger Power won eight All-Irelands with Kerry’s footballers in the 1970s and 1980s.
In court today, Mr Miko paused for a number of seconds before eventually stating ‘guilty’ to the single count of sex assault when being arraigned on the charge.
After entering his guilty plea, Mr Miko then shook his head.
Counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly BL told the court that there is now no bar to Mr Miko’s name being published as there is no familial connection to the complainant.
Mr Connolly said that time will be required to put together a victim impact statement.
Mr Miko comes from Slovakia with a Gypsy background.
Mr Miko has nine siblings and came to Ireland in 2006 aged nine.
In the dangerous driving causing death case, Mr McNamara died a number of days later from his injuries and Asst State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster found that Mr McNamara died from severe traumatic brain injury as a result of blunt force trauma in a road traffic collision.
Judge Gerald Keys remanded Mr Miko in custody for sentencing on the sexual assault charge to Thursday, February 20th.
