A MAN appeared before a special sitting of Killarney District Court yesterday evening charged in connection, with the death of a Killarney woman, Ms Karen Fogarty.
Mr Patrick O'Leary (28) with an address at Kippaugh, Muckross, Co Kerry, was charged with dangerous driving, causing the death of Ms Karen Fogarty. He was also charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident and with failing to keep a vehicle at the scene of an accident.
Ms Fogarty (21) died on Sunday after she was knocked off her bicycle on the Muckross Road, Killarney, early on Sunday morning. A car that hit the woman failed to stop, at the scene.
The arresting officer, Det Sgt Paul Downey, told how he had arrested Mr O'Leary at 9.50 p.m. on Sunday in a house at Caher East, Kilgarvan, where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. When initially charged at Killarney Garda station yesterday, the defendant had nothing to say.
Requesting that Mr O'Leary be remanded in custody, the garda said the defendant had made a number of attempts at evading detection, including sleeping overnight in a shed after the accident and walking 10 miles across a mountain on Sunday morning.
Det Sgt Downey told the court, how a car had been concealed in a field beside the defendant's home. When Mr O'Leary was arrested, he was concealed in the house in Kilgarvan with the help of others. He also has a house in Scotland and the garda said he, believed Mr O'Leary was trying, to return there when arrested.
Mr O'Leary's solicitor, Mr Pat O'Connor, said he was looking for bail. There were a number of people present in court, including the defendant's brother, who were willing to put up cash bonds if bail was granted. Mr O'Leary lived in Killarney for the past month and worked as a jarvey.
Refusing bail, Judge Terence Finn said the court had to take into consideration Garda views, particularly incidents following the accident. He remanded Mr O'Leary in custody to Cork prison to appear before Tralee District Court next Thursday.
Mr O'Leary, who appeared in court wearing a round necked jumper and jeans, remained silent during the 10 minute hearing.