Courts

Man in court on dangerous driving charge following crash that killed boy (4)

Boy was in car with his mother, who was in court in a wheelchair, and his brother (7)

Finbarr O’Rourke, charged with dangerous driving causing the death of a four-year-old boy, leaving Portlaoise District Court yesterday. Photograph: James Flynn/APX

Fri Nov 14 2014 - 01:01

A man has appeared at Portlaoise District Court charged with dangerous driving causing death at Ballymorris, Portlaoise, on April 17th this year.

Garda Sgt David Lynam gave evidence of arresting and charging Finbar O’Rourke (39), Laurel Drive, Portlaoise. Garda Sgt Lynam said that after caution, Mr O’Rourke replied: “I’m sorry.”

Judge Catherine Staines remanded Mr O’Rourke on continuing bail until December 11th to allow time for a book of evidence to be served on him. He granted free legal aid to the defendant.

The family of the four-year-old boy who died in the collision attended the hearing. His mother wept quietly during the proceedings. Ciarán Treacy died when the car in which he was a passenger – with his mother Gillian and seven-year-old brother Seán – was in a head-on collision with another car on the Portarlington to Portlaoise Road at Ballymorris.

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