A man has appeared in court in Co Clare charged with dangerous driving causing death following a road accident in the county on Friday night last.
Mr John Hogan (42), with an address at Bushy Park, Ennis, was charged on Tuesday with the offence of dangerous driving causing death contrary to Section 53 (1) of the Road Traffic Act. Mr Hogan was brought before Miltown Malbay District Court yesterday morning.
Sgt Michael Haran, of Ennis Garda station, gave evidence before Judge Joseph Mangan yesterday of arresting Mr Hogan at 6.05 p.m. on November 9th, and charging him with the offence.
The accused, the court heard, made no reply when charged.
Solicitor Ms Tara Godfrey, for the accused, made an application for bail on behalf of her client.
Ms Godfrey offered to pay a cash surety of €3,000 along with an independent surety of €6,000.
However, Insp Michael Gallagher, outlining the State's requested bail conditions, asked for "substantial bail".
Insp Gallagher said: "You will appreciate, judge, that the defendant is facing a very serious charge.
"We would be asking for substantial bail along with other conditions."
Judge Mangan consented to bail in the amount of €5,000 in cash, the defendant's own surety of €5,000 and an independent surety of €10,000.
Judge Mangan adjourned proceedings so that the accused's father, who was also in court, could arrange to secure the €5,000 in cash.
A short time later, €5,000 in cash was handed to the court clerk.
Insp Gallagher also asked that the accused sign on daily at Ennis Garda station, that he notify gardaí of the address at which he would be staying in Ennis and further asked that Mr Hogan surrenders his Irish and Canadian passports.
Ms Godfrey, however, denied that her client had a Canadian passport.
Insp Gallagher said he believed that the accused had one, and said that further Garda inquiries would be made to ascertain whether Mr Hogan was the holder of Canadian papers.
"If we find that he has one, we will be treating it very seriously," the inspector said.
When asked whether her client was working, Ms Godfrey told Judge Mangan that Mr Hogan was an "independent contractor".