The bus driver involved in a crash in Dubai which killed a Dublin teacher was doing twice the speed limit when the vehicle collided with a low-hanging barrier, a court has heard.
Balbriggan native, Fiona Geraghty tragically died in the collision on June 6.
The 27-year-old was one of 17 people who died on the bus which was travelling from Oman to Dubai.
The Omani driver, 53, on Tuesday pleaded guilty at Dubai Traffic Court over charges of causing the wrongful death of 17 people and injuring others.
The Irish Mirror said the court heard that the bus struck a low-hanging barrier while traveling at a speed of 94km/h in a 40km/h zone.
The driver reportedly told the court: "I admit to my mistake but the sun was too bright. It was shining into my eyes so I pulled down a small curtain."
The 53-year-old took a turn which led to a road not designated for buses due to height restrictions.
Prosecutor Salah Bu Farousha Al Felasi said the driver shouldn't have made such an error as he has used the road several times before, Gulf News reports.
He said: “He admitted to lowering the sun shade and didn’t notice the signboards or warning signs, despite having used the road several times before the accident.
"His reckless driving, not paying attention to the road, and his speeding, caused the disaster.
The signboards and warning signs were enough to warn any driver.
“The bus driver didn’t pay attention despite being responsible for the lives of passengers.
"Passengers usually trust the bus driver and put their lives in his hands, knowing that he should have passed hard tests to obtain such a licence."
Al Felasi asked Judge Ali Ghnaim to hand down the toughest punishment of seven years in jail and a fine of €820.2million in blood money for the families of the victims.
The judge rejected a request to release the driver on bail until the next hearing on July 9.
