An man said to be named in the "15 most wanted list" in the US over a fatal car crash, was remanded in custody yesterday in Dublin pending an extradition hearing.
Frederick David Russell, who has been on the run for four years, was refused bail at a special sitting of the High Court at Cloverhill, Dublin.
Mr Russell told the court that he absconded after receiving death threats.
"I left the States in fear for my life. I received several death threats over a month after the accident as things in court revealed more of what happened," he said.
He told the court that messages were left on his answer phone, he was attacked while at a softball match and that other threats were made against his mother's life.
Mr Russell also said he travelled from England to France, Germany, Holland and back to England before eventually settling in Ireland.
"I didn't really know what I was doing. I knew I was safe," he said.
Miss Justice Elizabeth Dunne said assurances given by the 27-year-old's girlfriend and a Co Meath businessman were not enough to guarantee that he would attend court in the future.
Mr Russell had evaded authorities on both sides of the Atlantic since fleeing the US after he was charged over a fatal pile-up in Washington State on June 4th, 2001.
Three students in their early 20s were killed in the high-speed crash.
Mr Russell was arrested by gardaí while working as a security man in a clothes store in Dublin city centre last month.
Using the alias David Carroll for the past six months, he had not come to the attention of gardaí or immigration authorities.
The US Marshals' Service had received a tip-off about him last January, after his name was put on the 15 most wanted list.
Gardaí waited more than nine months to make the arrest following an extradition request from US authorities.
Arresting officer, Garda Sgt Anthony Linehan, said: "He has been here for four years. During that time he has had no interaction with any State agency as far as we can work out."