Clare man charged with dangerous driving causing death of girl (3)

A 60-year-old Co Clare man has appeared in court charged with the dangerous driving causing the death of a three-year-old girl.

At Ennis District Court, Senan O'Flaherty of Lower Gowerhass, Cooraclare appeared charged with with dangerous driving causing death of Estlin Wall at Ballyea South, Inagh on March 15th.

She was travelling from her home in Ennistymon to a creche in Inagh in a car driven by her father Vincent at about 9am when the crash took place.

Mr O'Flaherty's Scania truck was travelling in the opposite direction in a line of traffic from Inagh to Ennistymon.

The girl was airlifted to University Hospital Limerick and later transferred to Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin. Her life support machine was switched off three days later.

Her father suffered serious head injuries in the crash.

At the opening of the adjourned inquest into Estlin's death last July, Dublin coroner Dr Myra Cullinane thanked the Wall family for their consent to the donation of the child's organs, which helped save the lives of others.

A postmortem examination by Dr Emma Doyle found the cause of Estlin's death as traumatic brain and neck injuries.

In court on Wednesday, Garda Ruth O’Sullivan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. Mr O’Flaherty made no reply when charged, she said.

Insp Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has confirmed that the case be heard on indictment and be forwarded to the circuit court.

Judge Patrick Durcan remanded Mr O'Flaherty on bail to Ennis District Court to December 13th for the serving of the book of evidence.