‘HE WENT TO HIS MOTHER’S OPEN ARMS. THE PRODIGAL SON HAD RETURNED’
AN elderly woman stood patiently at the front door, a West Highland terrier sitting by her side, wagging its tail expectantly. A cheerful bunch of daffodils were perched on a table in the porch, the sounds of chatter inside indicated a few family members had arrived already.
A black Volkswagen Passat pulled into the driveway of the modest north Co. Dublin home, and David Drumm emerged.
Without looking at the waiting press, he muttered ‘hi lads’, ignoring calls for him to comment. After closing the car door, he went straight to the open arms of his mother, and they had a lengthy embrace before entering the house. The prodigal son had returned.
The door closed behind them, and for the first time a handmade sign could be seen.
‘Welcome home Uncle David,’ it read, scrawled in a child’s handwriting.
A relative, believed to be Mr Drumm’s sister, came out of the house to retrieve something from the car boot, and noticed the sign. Snatching it from the door, she slammed it shut behind her.
There is little to distinguish the two-storey semi-D from neighbouring homes in the mature estate.
A porch with small stainedglass detail and a garage conversion are the only low-key frivolities on the house on Shennick Avenue in Skerries.
A window was left open upstairs at the front of the house for the whole afternoon – perhaps Mr Drumm’s mother was airing out the guest room for her new lodger.
The woman believed to be Mr Drumm’s sister emerged again later, removing what appeared to be a large multi-pack of Diet Coke cans from the passenger seat of the car.
The family were fast running out of refreshments for their reunion.
At 5pm, more family members arrived – a blonde woman and a teenage boy.
Throughout the evening, cars and people came and went but Mr Drumm remained hidden indoors. Neighbours were not seen to join the gathering.
Earlier yesterday morning, Mr Drumm was led into court by gardaí, and immediately scanned the room for his family members.
His in-laws, Georgina and Daniel Farrell, were seated in the public gallery, sticking out like sore thumbs among the usual clientele. Another blonde woman, believed to be another sister of Mr Drumm’s, sat beside them.
Wearing a dark overcoat and an open-neck blue shirt, Mr Drumm did not look visibly tired or distressed after his
night in Cloverhill Prison, and blew a kiss to supporters in the public gallery when his next hearing date was set.
Dressed in a cream cape and pearls, Georgina Farrell smiled and nodded at her son-in-law as she left the witness box after confirming she had lodged her share of the €50,000 bail and that the remainder was frozen in a j oint bank account with her husband.
‘Thanks, I’ll see you later,’ said Mr Drumm as she made her way to her seat. Both Mr and Mrs Farrell confirmed to Judge Michael Walsh that they were aware of court proceedings involving their son-in-law and that they risked losing the money if Mr Drumm breaks the bail terms or fails to turn up for his trial.
Mr Drumm was asked by Judge Walsh if he would comply with bail terms and replied: ‘I will.’
Judge Walsh also warned him that he must notify the State within 14 days if he intends to rely on an alibi in his defence. Asked to confirm that the signature on his bail bond was his, he replied: ‘It is, Your Honour.’
At around lunchtime, Mr Drumm emerged smiling into the foyer of the criminal courts, stopping to hug and kiss family members.
JUST before he left the buildi ng, Mr and Mrs Farrell slipped out. Walking up the steep incline on Infirmary Road behind the criminal courts, Georgina donned a pair of sunglasses and clutched her Guess handbag tightly. Daniel zipped up his Nautica jacket against the spring chill. The pensioners drove away towards the Phoenix Park.
Finally, Mr Drumm exited the court building to a scrum of photographers and cameramen.
He walked slowly with a family member, even stopping to pose for photos, before getting into a waiting black Volkswagen Passat. Mr Drumm said nothing except ‘thanks’ to the waiting media.
The banker must now sign on twice daily at Balbriggan Garda Station, and judging by the number of cars coming and going from the family home, he’ll never be short of a lift.
A BMW, a Mercedes, a Toyota Yaris and a Volkswagen Golf were among the vehicles to come and go from the property throughout the afternoon – as well as the black Passat that brought him home from court.