Driver of car in fatal Athy crash sent forward for trial

The driver of the car in which four friends were killed in Athy last year has been sent forward for trial to Naas Circuit Criminal Court on a dangerous driving causing death allegation.

Dayna Kearney (21) from Crossneen in Carlow appeared before sitting of Athy District Court on Tuesday. Garda Sean O'Mahony gave evidence of formally presenting the defendant with a book of evidence in the case

A Volkswagen Polo, driven by Ms Kearney, was involved in a collision with a van on the N78 Athy Link Road at Burtown on January 6th 2015.

Aisling Middleton(19) from Athy and her friends Niamh Doyle (19), Gemma Nolan (19), and Chermaine Carroll (20), all from Carlow, died in the collision.

Judge Desmond Zaidan was told that the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the case going forward for trial to the Naas Circuit Criminal Court sitting which begins on June 21st 2016.

Dressed in a maroon jacket, black jeans and a black top Ms Kearney spoke only to confirm her name.

Judge Zaidan formally sent the case forward for trial on the single indictable offence and he noted that there were no issues with the ability of the defendant to plead in the case. He directed that a summary allegation, that Ms Kearney drove a vehicle which she knew to be defective, be added to the indictment.

Ms Kearney was remanded on continuing bail pending the trial. The conditions for the granting of bail were set out on a previous date and these were reaffirmed at the court sitting on Tuesday. The conditions are that Ms Kearney continue to reside at her home address or notify gardaí within 24 hours of a change of address, to surrender her passport and not to apply for alternative travel documents.

Ms Kearney's solicitor Seamus Taaffe asked that her passport be returned to enable his client travel to the United States for work this summer. Judge Zaidan said that this was a matter for the Circuit Court to decide and Mr Taaffe agreed to this suggestion.