A MAN has admitted the road rage killing of a North-East father-of-three in Dublin – telling his victim’s family it was “a moment of madness” on his part.

Karl Donohoe, 30, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of construction worker Raymond Bates in September 2010 when he appeared at the Central Criminal Court, Dublin, yesterday.

Mr Bates, from Peterlee, east Durham, died in hospital four days after being beaten about the head with a hurley stick.

His killer was due to go on trial for murder when he entered a guilty plea for the lesser charge yesterday.

Mr Bates had been in Ireland working on a gas pipeline.

The 49-year-old was beaten about the head after a row with motorist Dononhoe in a leafy south Dublin suburb.

The case was listed for trial when the packed courtroom heard Donohoe was ready to be arraigned.

Donohoe, dressed in a navy suit, said: “Not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter.”

Isobel Kennedy, senior counsel for the state, said the plea was acceptable to the prosecution.

Brendan Grehan, representing Donohoe, said his client wanted to take the opportunity to apologise to the Bates family, who were in court for the brief hearing.

Mr Grehan said: “He said it was a moment of madness on his part and he is sorry for his actions.”

Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded Donohoe in custody until sentencing, when a victim impact statement from Mr Bates’ family will be read in court.

The attack happened on September 26, 2010, at a road junction.

Both Mr Bates and Donohoe drove away from the scene before a witness reported the assault to the Garda.

Mr Bates went to St Vincent’s Hospital, in Dublin, the next day after becoming unwell and was transferred to Beaumont Hospital, also in the city, where he fell into a coma and died on September 30.

Donohoe, a crane worker from Tyrellstown, west Dublin, was arrested and initially charged with assault causing serious harm.

The Director of Public Prosecutions later ordered that he should be charged with murder and the lesser charge was struck out.

Donohoe has been remanded in custody to be sentenced on April 16.