A man has appeared in court charged in connection with a crash in Finglas that caused the death of a 16-year-old girl.
Grace Lynch died after being hit by a scrambler motorbike as she used a pedestrian crossing on Ratoath Road in Dublin 11, on Sunday afternoon.
Two teenagers on the bike, an adult male and a male juvenile, were treated for “non-life-threatening” injuries after the incident on Sunday.
Keith Lee (18) of Park View Drive, Poppintree Park, Dublin 11, appeared at Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday charged with an offence under section 53 of dangerous driving causing the death of another person.
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Giving evidence, Garda Thomas McDaniel stated that Mr Lee was caught “red-handed”.
Garda McDaniel said he had been arrested at the scene, admitted being the driver of the vehicle in question and the incident was captured on CCTV.
CCTV footage suggested that the bike was being driven at a speed of least 85km/h in a 50km/h zone.
Grace Lynch was crossing the road when she was knocked down.
Garda McDaniel said CCTV showed the traffic lights went from green to amber to red for the drivers of vehicles.
The lights were still red for drivers when Mr Lee’s motorbike struck the girl.
She was treated at the scene, but died later in hospital.
Garda McDaniel said Mr Lee was cautioned at the scene and was brought to Finglas Garda station. He was later charged with dangerous driving.
He acknowledged that Mr Lee had “fully co-operated” with the Garda investigation and had expressed remorse for Grace Lynch’s death.
The garda objected to bail on the basis that Mr Lee had been accused of an “extremely serious offence” which carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Mr Lee’s solicitor Wayne Kenny said his client had no previous convictions and had been fully co-operative with the Garda investigation.
He said Mr Lee suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and dyslexia. His father had died some time back.
He works part-time as a mechanic and also claims for disability allowance.
Mr Kenny said the evidence of Mr Lee’s involvement in the incident was “overwhelming” but should not be held against him in a bail hearing.
There was nothing to demonstrate that he would not turn up for court, he said.
Judge Áine Clancy said the offence was of the “utmost seriousness” but there was a presumption in favour of innocence and also a presumption in favour of bail.
She took into account that the accused had no previous convictions and he has no bench warrants attached to his name.
She granted Mr Lee bail subject to him and his mother, Yvonne Lee, providing cash sureties of €1,000 each.
Under the terms of his bail, he cannot drive any mechanically propelled vehicles.
He must provide a mobile phone number, sign on at a Garda station three times a week, surrender his passport, reside with his mother and abide by a curfew between 11pm and 6am.
The case was adjourned until May 1st for the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
