A man (27) was today remanded in custody after he was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of two teenagers who were passengers in the car he was driving.
James Simms was charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of CJ Dolan (16) and Derry O'Callaghan (19) at Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny in Cork on May 14th.
At Cork District Court, Garda Danny Culloty gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court Mr Simms made no reply to either charge.
Insp Gary McPolin said gardaí were seeking a remand in custody as they feared Mr Simms, with an address at St Luke's Ave, Wellington Road, would not stand trial if granted bail.
He said gardaí were also concerned further offences might be committed if Mr Simms was granted bail due to a high level of emotion in the area following the two deaths.
However, Mr Simms's solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, argued strenuously for bail and said Mr Simms had been in Cork since the incident in May and that gardaí had only just arrested him.
He said his client had been driving a car that had been rammed by another vehicle and that he was a victim in the case, having suffered a broken back in the collision.
Judge Tim Lucey said that he believed gardaí had genuine grounds for objecting to bail and he remanded Mr Simms in custody to appear again on August 18th.
Another man, Philip Murphy (40) of Killala Gardens, Knocknaheeny, is already charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of the two teenagers.
Last week, Cork District Court heard that the DPP had directed Mr Murphy be tried on indictment on the dangerous driving causing death charges and another charge.
Mr Murphy has been remanded in custody at Limerick Prison and is due to appear again at Cork District Court next week on August 18th.
