This article is from page 6 of the 2006-07-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A TEENAGER charged with dangerous driving causing the death of two Kilkee teenagers almost three years ago is to be extradited back to Ireland from the UK today (Tuesday).
Galway native David Naughton (18) is to appear before Kilrush District Court tomorrow, in connection with an execution of a bench warrant for his arrest, which is outstanding since he absconded in February 2004.
He is accused of dangerous driving causing the deaths of Stacey Haugh (16) and Lorna Mahony (13), at Moyarta, Carrigaholt, on October 17, 2003.
Mr Naughton absconded while on bail for the charge of dangerous driving causing the deaths of the young Kilkee pair.
He was apprehended by the authorities in London in March.
Mr Naughton was jailed in London last April for offences committed in England while on the run from the courts here and was due to be released yesterday. Gardaí have now travelled to London with a European Arrest Warrant and are expected to return to Ireland later today with the teenager.
At the time of the crash, Mr Naughton was living in Westside House, a unit for homeless adolescents in Galway city, where residents are allowed to leave the unit unaccompanied.
He first appeared in court in Ennis on October 24, 2003, a week after the fatal crash.
Mr Naughton, who was 16 at the time, was remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institution in Dublin, but was granted bail at his next hearing. He was later returned to St Patrick’s for breaching his bail conditions, but was again released after telling a court that he had been assaulted by other inmates while in custody. Soon afterwards, he fled to England.
A bench warrant for his arrest was issued at Ennis District Court when he failed to appear for a hearing in February 2004. It was the following May, when he first came to the attention of police in the UK, that it was confirmed he had fled to England.
The book of evidence has yet to be served in the case relating to the deaths of the two girls. It is expected it will be served prior to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court in October.
However, with the current backlog of criminal cases, it is unclear whether the case will be heard in 2006.