THE HIGH Court has granted bail to a Meath man wanted in Australia on charges of dangerous driving causing the deaths of two Irish backpackers near Perth in 2007.
The Australian authorities are seeking the extradition of Eamon Mark Driver (29), Stanley Heights, Slane, on charges of causing the deaths of Colm Reilly (20), Slane, and Kiara Duncan (20), Kentstown, Co Meath, by dangerous driving.
Mr Driver, a single man currently on disability, is alleged to have been the driver of a hatchback which was involved in a fatal crash that occurred at about 11pm on October 31st, 2007, at Bedford, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia.
At the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice John Edwards granted Mr Driver bail “on stringent conditions”. These include a surety of €75,000, that he sign in twice a week with gardaí, reside at his home address, not leave the jurisdiction and be of good behaviour.
The bond was set at €75,000 after the judge was told Mr Driver expected to receive “a six-figure payment” as compensation for injuries he sustained in a road crash in 2009, where the other side had admitted liability.
Gardaí had expressed their concerns about granting Mr Driver bail. Det Sgt Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit said that “from the beginning”, Mr Driver’s attitude towards the charges he faced has been “one of evasion.” He said Mr Driver left Australia shortly after the incident.
He said the Australian authorities claimed that in about 2009 Mr Driver was in contact by telephone with them and had indicated that he intended to return, but did not do so. Lawyers for Mr Driver said their client would abide by any bail conditions set by the court.
He had been living openly in Ireland since his return from Australia. He suffered serious and permanent injuries to his leg in the 2009 road crash and would require surgery in the future.
The judge granted Mr Driver bail, but in light of the compensation payment, he refused an application by Mr Driver’s lawyers for a recommendation that their legal costs be paid by the State.
The matter was adjourned to October.