An Italian freelance journalist facing a charge of dangerous driving causing death has been told by the High Court that if Interpol reports on his previous record are satisfactory he may return home to Florence while awaiting trial.
Mr Justice O'Donovan was told yesterday that Mr Alessandro Antonelli (23) had been the driver of a car involved in a head-on collision in which an Italian holidaymaker and an Irish woman were killed near Arklow on August 26th last.
Two Italian holidaymakers in Mr Antonelli's rented car were still seriously ill in hospital.
Mr Michael O'Higgins, counsel for Mr Antonelli, told the court his client had already been released on £10,000 cash bail on condition that he resided in Ireland and signed on regularly at a Garda station.
The conditions were creating financial hardship for Mr Antonelli and his family, and the trial might not go ahead until next February.
Garda Martin Kavanagh said Mr Antonelli had been co-operative and courteous with gardai since his arrest and charge on August 27th last. He had inquired of Interpol of his background and previous record, if any, but had yet to receive a reply to his inquiries.
Mr Justice O'Donovan told Ms Pauline Walley, counsel for the State, that he would adjourn Mr Antonelli's application until September 24th. He said the court would be disposed to vary the conditions as sought by Mr Antonelli in the event of satisfactory replies from Interpol to Garda Kavanagh's inquiries.