Brosnan crash: driver in court

Recovering: Marguerite, Ger and Karen Brosnan
Recovering: Marguerite, Ger and Karen Brosnan

THE man driving the car that ploughed into a station wagon carrying three members of the Brosnan family from Killarney during their holiday in Australia has pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court to dangerous driving causing death.

He has also been charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and an excess alcohol reading 0.08, The West Australian newspaper reports today.

20-year-old Michael Craig Burvill appeared in Perth Magistrate’s Court this Tuesday charged over a crash that subsequently lead to the death of Martin Roberts, 56, on Karrinyup Road on January 4 last.

The station wagon driver was rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where he later died.

Ger Brosnan (55) from Port Road, Killarney, a passenger in the Mr Roberts’ vehicle, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and four other passengers, including his wife Marguerite and daughter, Karen, (28), were also seriously injured and brought to Royal Perth Hospital.

Karen has since been discharged but her parents have been transferred to another facility where they are being treated for the injuries they sustained.

The Brosnans were in the Toyota Camry station wagon, driven by family friend Mr Roberts, when it was reportedly struck head-on by Mr Burvill’s Holden Commodore.

The accused will appear in the District Court again on April 10.

Following his appearance in the Perth Magistrates Court, Mr Burvill apologised for what had happened.

“I just want to say sorry to the Roberts family and the Brosnan family and anyone else I’ve affected,” he told reporters outside afterwards.

“I made a stupid mistake and I have to face that now, I know nothing I can say will bring him back or be any condolence at all but I’m just sorry.”