Francis Ciaran Tobin, the Irish driver who was sentenced in Hungary for killing two children in a crash nearly 14 years ago is starting his sentence in Hungary, Minister of Public Administration and Justice Tibor Navracsics said on Monday.
Tobin was arrested in Budapest's Liszt Ferenc International Airport in the early evening, Minister Navracsics stated.
In line with an earlier agreement, should he lodge a request to continue his term in Ireland, the relevant procedure will be started on Friday and he can leave Hungary on January 17, he added.
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Tobin was sentenced in absentia by a Hungarian court in 2002 for the fatal accident at Leányfalu near Budapest. The sentence of three years was upheld by an appellate court, which added that he can be released after 18 months at the earliest. Tobin gave himself up to the authorities in Dublin in November 2011. An Irish court rejected Hungary's request for extradition in June 2012 and ordered Tobin's immediate release. Tobin announced in March last year that he would be prepared to start his sentence in Hungary but would make a request to continue his term in Ireland.
The father of the two children killed in the accident, Bence Zoltai, told the press that Tobin's greatest punishment for long years was not being able to leave this case behind. Mr Zoltai also stated that he will now have the chance to end a long and difficult period of his life.
(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)
