A 43-year-old mother of one will be sentenced next week, after she pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of a man in Cork last October.
Kseniia Vasylenko had fled the war in Ukraine with her son and arrived in Cork a year earlier, where she joined her mother who was already in the city.
She had been charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 49-year-old Andrii Nesterov at Cork Airport Hotel on 8 October 2023.
Mr Nesterov was also Ukrainian, and both had an address at the Cork Airport Hotel.
Earlier this month at the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork, prosecuting barrister Donal O'Sullivan said that a plea to a lesser charge of careless driving rather than dangerous driving causing death was acceptable to the State.
An outline of the case against Ms Vasylenko was heard today.
Detective Garda Gary Brennan told the court an ambulance was called to the Cork Airport Hotel in the early hours of 8 October last year. He said when ambulance personnel arrived there, they observed that Mr Nesterov had blood coming from his mouth and ear and he had injuries to his head and right leg.
He was pronounced dead at 3.45am.
Gardaí were called and they spoke to Vasylenko.
She admitted she was present when Mr Nesterov stood in front of his Hyundai car and then fell down. She admitted she had consumed alcohol, but denied that she had been driving the car.
The area was examined by a scenes of crime unit and a dashcam was seized from Mr Nesterov's car.
Detective Garda Brennan said the dashcam had captured most of an incident.
He said the dashcam showed Mr Nesterov at the rear of his car and six seconds later the vehicle was put into reverse.
He said the front, right side of the car is seen lifted up and Mr Nesterov becomes visible on the ground. He said Vasylenko is then seen approaching Mr Nesterov on the ground.
Detective Garda Brennan said Vasylenko is seen a short time later alerting hotel staff and requesting that an ambulance be called.
After she returned to her room in the hotel, she was later arrested and questioned by gardaí.
She initially denied driving the car and said Mr Nesterov had fallen. Later she said she did not totally remember because she was intoxicated and in shock.
However, in a subsequent interview she accepted she had been driving Mr Nesterov's car, but she said she did not realise that she had driven over him.
Mr Nesterov died from severe traumatic brain injuries, together with blunt force trauma to his chest. The court was also told there was a high concentration of alcohol in his blood.
Detective Garda Brennan agreed Vasylenko had been intoxicated on the night and was remorseful. He said he accepted that this was a tragic accident.
Defence Counsel Jane Hyland said Vasylenko had asked her to convey how devastated she was, saying Mr Nesterov's death was a burden on her heart and would remain so for the rest of her life.
She apologised to his family, saying no words could reduce their pain.
"She is extremely remorseful," Ms Hyland said. "If she could turn back time, she would. She hopes that the family can find a place in their hearts for forgiveness."
Ms Hyland said Vasylenko has a degree in English and Ukrainian and is qualified to teach English. She said she has no previous convictions.
She said Vasylenko accepts full responsibility and has been an excellent prisoner since she went into custody last October.
Judge Helen Boyle said she wanted to consider a victim impact statement from Mr Nesterov's family.
She adjourned the case until next Wednesday.
