A judicial review is looming in the case of a former Irish and Munster rugby star, Eddie Halvey in relation to a charge of dangerous driving causing death.
Mr Halvey, of Allendale Hall, South Circular Road, Limerick is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 16-year-old Kevin Walsh, from Sycamore Drive, Bruff, Co Limerick on the 1st of April 2006 at Coole, Toomevara, Co. Tipperary.
Heappeared at Nenagh Circuit Court today dressed in a charcoal suit, dark grey overcoat and accompanied by family members and a friend.
Counsel for Mr. Halvey, Mr Pat Walsh, BL, informed Judge Olive Buttimer that his colleague M. Patrick Gageby was drafting papers in preparation for a judicial review of the case.
Mr Walsh explained that the Director of Public Prosecution had made a decision to drop the charge in January 2007 but subsequently reversed his decision and reinstated the charge.
"Since the reinstatement of the charge there has been a significant amount of correspondence between the defence and the prosecution regarding disclosure of evidence in the case. This has not been finalised," Mr. Walsh said before applying for an adjournment to the next criminal sittings of Nenagh Circuit Court in May.
Mr. Frank Quirke, BL, said the State had been informed of a potential judicial review of the case and pointed out that the State had fully complied with all matters regarding disclosure before adding that he was opposing the application for an adjournment.
In light of the possibility of a judicial review, Judge Buttimer accepted that there was no likelihood of the case proceeding and adjourned the matter to the 5th of May next.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the dangerous driving causing death charge through his Nenagh based solicitor, Noel O'Meara when he appeared in Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court on a number of occasions last year.
Kevin Walsh was the only son of Kate and Jim Walsh, who have an older daughter, Amanda. He was travelling to the north of Ireland with his uncles, Vincent and Declan Tierney, to buy a car for Declan's hackney business when the accident occurred close to Toomevara village.
Mr. Halvey still faces a charge of driving with excess alcohol on the same occasion before Nenagh District Court later this year.
Eddie Halvey won eight Irish caps, the first of them in 1994 against France. He was also capped for Munster the same year and was a regular player for the next seven seasons.