JAMIE McGRENAGHAN, the teenager accused of dangerous driving of an 11-year-old car and causing serious harm to a young garda who died on Tuesday was due to be freed from custody yesterday when his mother was approved as a suitable independent guarantor for bail.
The 18-year-old was granted bail in the High Court on Monday but remained in St Patrick’s Institution while Buncrana District Court in Donegal assessed the suitability of his mother, Margaret Rita McGrenaghan, to stand €4,000 bail.
The High Court had set bail at €100 personal surety and €4,000 independent surety on condition the guarantor was acceptable to the local District Court .
Judge Kevin Kilrane was told at yesterday’s hearing that Ms McGrenaghan had the €4,000 and €2,000 was already lodged in court.
Insp David Kelly said the prosecution had no objection to her lodging bail.
Judge Kilrane was informed of the bail conditions as laid down by the High Court. Mr McGrenaghan, a Leaving Cert student of Gortnacraw, Kerrykeel, was to attend school daily, observe a 10pm to 8am curfew, live at home, be sober, refrain from contacting his co-accused Cathal Dunleavy (19), and not to apply for a passport. He is also to sign on daily with gardaí.
The judge approved Ms McGrenaghan as independent guarantor. She left the court shortly after the brief hearing with her solicitor Ciarán O’Gorman.
Her son is charged with dangerous driving causing harm to Garda Robbie McCallion (29), on March 26th at Tara Court, Letterkenny.
He is also accused of taking another vehicle, a 15-year-old car, without the permission of owner Tonia O’Brien, at Tara Court on the same occasion.
Before the case was heard yesterday, the judge extended condolences on his own behalf and on behalf of the people of Ireland to the family and colleagues of Garda McCallion who died in Beaumont Hospital on Tuesday.
Mr McGrenaghan is due in court again on April 17th at Harristown District Court in Castlerea, Co Roscommon. His co-accused, Mr Dunleavy, who remains in custody, is also due in the same court.