BAILFORRAILWAY TERRACEACCUSED

A man accused of endangerment, which arises out of a crash in January at Railway Terrace in Dundalk has been freed on bail after the judge said ‘ he could be in custody for up to two years’ before he gets a date for trial.

Jake Keenan, whose address was given as 481 Ashling Park, was charged with endangerment and criminal damage to two houses, an eir pole and a wall on January 29. In addition, he was charged with dangerous driving and having no insurance.

It is alleged the damage caused to the houses is €10,000 and the court has previously heard that while eir have undertaken to fix the pole themselves, Gardai are still trying to establish who actually owns the wall.

Last week, Keenan, who had been remanded in custody, appeared in court again and Sgt Fintain McGroder said the DPP had directed that the case be sent forward for trial to the circuit court.

The sergeant said Keenan is in custody on the endangerment charge and Gardai were objecting to bail on a number of grounds including their belief that he is a flight risk.

Judge John Coughlan said it ‘could be a year before he gets on for a trial so we can’t keep him in custody’. He asked solicitor Paula Tiernan to take instructions and added the bail would be ‘subject to very tight conditions’.

Sgt. McGroder reiterated the Garda objections to bail and the judge said Keenan ‘could be in custody for one to two years’.

He said: ‘ Have a word with him and see what you can do’.

After a short adjournment, Gardai again objected to bail. Gardai alleged that Keenan had fled from custody in court on one previous occasion and had spent a number of hours at large before being apprehended.

But the judge said: ‘I want to give him bail. The problem is the High Court can give him bail. You can’t keep him in custody for two years. It’s not exactly a murder trial’.

After a second adjournment, Ms Tiernan said she had spoken to Gardai who would be seeking an independent surety of €1,000.

Ms Tiernan said she could have Keenan’s father in court the following day, though ‘ the family are of little means’ and had recently suffered an unexpected bereavement.

Judge Coughlan said: ‘If they all get together, they could do it. I’m trying to get him out here. If they’re genuine about it, then they will come up with it’.

He told Keenan: ‘You better talk to your relations. They can put the hat around and get the money. You need to decide who is going to be the surety – they have to be of good character and have no convictions.

‘If the family are genuine, they will have to come up with the money’.

The case was adjourned to the following day, Thursday, with Keenan remanded in custody. Judge Coughlan set bail in the defendant’s own bond of €100, with an independent surety of €1,000, with no cash lodged. Keenan’s father was named as surety and had to provide proof that the cash was in an account.

The defendant has to reside at a specified address in Tallaght, and sign on twice a day at Tallaght station. He must be indoors at home between 8pm and 7am every day - a curfew - and surrender his passport. Iwn addition, Keenan has to remain contactable for Gardai at all times on his mobile phone and is to have no alcohol or non prescribed drugs.

Keenan was also told he is to have no contact with any witnesses in the case.

The case was adjourned to April 12.