Man charged with dangerous driving causing death of pedestrian in Limerick refused bail

A man charged with dangerous driving causing the death of a pedestrian in Limerick city last month has been refused bail by a High Court judge.

Danny Connors is in custody on charges including dangerous driving causing the death of James Forde (53) at Ennis Road, on November 26th last and failing to remain at the scene.

The family of Mr Forde, of Shannamore Park, Clareview, Limerick, watched the bail application at Cloverhill courthouse on Thursday via video link.

Gda Dermot Hallett, of Henry Street Garda station in Limerick, opposed bail on grounds including his view that Mr Connors (30), of Clondrinagh Halting Site, Ennis Road, might not turn up for his trial.

Barrister Rónán Prendergast, for Mr Connors, said his client expected to receive a custodial sentence and was essentially seeking compassionate bail to spend what might be his last Christmas with his family for some time.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring said she was satisfied that Mr Connors is “genuinely remorseful”.

She said his previous convictions involved a multiplicity of offences and, from the evidence, she was satisfied he would probably not attend his trial if granted bail, noting that he had failed to turn up for trial on lesser charges. There was “a reasonable need” to remand him in custody to prevent him committing further serious offences, she ruled.

Addressing the family of Mr Forde, the judge extended her “deepest condolences” and said “it is difficult for any family who has lost a member” and particularly so at this time of year.

Separately, bail was refused to a man alleged to have repeatedly punched his father and threatened his mother with a hammer before stealing money from her. His parents, who live separately, had both obtained orders under the Domestic Violence Act against their son, aged in his 20s, the court heard.

A detective garda objected to bail on grounds of his concern that the man might commit further offences. That concern was linked to the man’s previous convictions, all of which relate to family members, he said. Those included breach of his mother’s protection order and criminal damage, for which he had served an eight-month sentence.

The man is currently facing a charge of assault causing harm to his father on a date last September and another charge of aggravated burglary at his mother’s home on the same date.

He had been living with his father and, on the day in question, allegedly claimed his father owed him money and told him he would kill him if he did not give it to him. When his father told him to leave, the man is alleged to have punched him and continued to punch him when he fell to the ground before he managed to flee the house.

It is alleged the man then went to his mother’s home and threatened her with a hammer taken from his father’s toolbox, saying she owed him money, before allegedly taking €25 to €30 from her purse.

The man was later detained under the Mental Health Act but “has no mental health diagnosis of concern”, the court was told. On discharge from hospital in early October, he was interviewed by gardaí about the alleged incidents concerning his parents and charged with assault and aggravated burglary.

Refusing bail, Ms Justice Ring said the evidence suggested it is reasonably necessary to remand him in custody to prevent him committing further offences.

The man had shown “no respect” for court orders, had breached them last year and allegedly continued to attack family members, she said. His mental health was an issue for another time, she said.