This article is from page 8 of the 2006-08-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
THE teenager accused of dangerous driving causing the death of two young west Clare girls will appear before the Circuit Court in two months time.
David Naughton (18), with an address in London, and formerly of Westside House, a unit for homeless adolescents in Galway, appeared in the District Court twice last week, after being extradited from the UK.
He is accused of dangerous driving causing the death of Kilkee girls Stacey Haugh (16) and Lorna Mahoney (13), at Moyarta, Carrigaholt, on October 17, 2003.
Garda Niall Naughton told Kilrush District Court last Wednesday that he arrested the accused at Shannon Airport last Tuesday night, July 25, on foot of a bench warrant issued on February 20, 2004.
The accused’s solicitor Valerie Corcoran sought a copy of the European Arrest Warrant, which would specify the charges on which her client was extradited.
Inspector Tom Kennedy sought to remand the accused in custody to appear before Ennis District Court on Friday, when he would clarify the issue regarding the charges.
On Friday, the book of evidence was served on Naughton and he was returned for trial on the charge of dangerous driving causing death.
Inspector Tom Kennedy said he was withdrawing charges of dangerous driving, driving without insurance and without a driving licence. He told Judge Joseph Mangan that the DPP consented to a return for trial on the charge of dangerous driving causing death.
Ms Corcoran applied for a junior counsel and senior counsel, for the Circuit Court case, “given the nature of the charge.”
Judge Mangan granted a junior counsel, but said he would not grant a senior counsel, telling the solicitor she could make an application in the Circuit Court.
Ms Corcoran said her client was on medication for a psychiatric illness and was seeing a psychiatrist regularly. She said that the medication would run out prior to her client’s Circuit Court appearance and asked to have the prescriptions renewed. The judge said he would note this on the commital warrant. Mr Naughton was remanded in custody, to St Patrick’s Institution, to appear before Ennis Circuit Court in October. The case will be mentioned at Ennis Circuit Court on October 2 and may go to trial later that month.
Several relatives of Ms Haugh and Ms Mahoney were present in court for both brief hearings.