An 18-year-old appeared in Kilrush District Court yesterday after being extradited from the UK to face a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of two Kilkee teenage friends.
The court appearance of David Naughton comes 2½ years after he absconded while on bail to face the charge of dangerous driving causing the deaths of Stacey Haugh (16) and Lorna Mahoney (13) at Moyarta, Carrigaholt, on October 17th, 2003.
Stacey's younger brother Karl was also injured. The two girls and Karl were passengers in an Opel car Mr Naughton was driving. It is alleged the car was bought for €60, just hours earlier in Galway.
Mr Naughton fled to the UK in February 2004 and was arrested by the UK authorities in March of this year. He has spent time in custody since then.
In court yesterday, Garda Niall Naughton told Judge Joseph Mangan he arrested Mr Naughton on Tuesday night at Shannon airport, using a European arrest warrant. Garda Naughton said Mr Naughton was appearing in court for the execution of a bench warrant outstanding since February 20th, 2004. He is also charged with driving without insurance or a licence on October 17th, 2003.
Solicitor for the accused Valerie Corcoran requested the Garda clarify whether the European arrest warrant also related to the other charges.
Insp Tom Kennedy confirmed the European arrest warrant related to the dangerous driving charge and said he would have the issue of the other charges clarified for the next court date.
Insp Kennedy applied that Mr Naughton be remanded in custody to St Patrick's Institution to reappear before Ennis District Court next Friday.
Ms Corcoran consented to the remand. At the time of the crash, Mr Naughton was living in Westside House, a unit for homeless adolescents in Galway city. The case will be heard in October at Ennis Circuit Court.
