Bail refused to ‘hit and run’ defendant

Found in upstairs wardrobe after a week on the run

A 26-YEAR-OLD man was refused bail this morning (Wednesday), February 25, on charges relating to a hit and run incident near Cavan Town last week.

Arising from the crash, a male passenger sustained serious head injuries and remains in an induced coma; while a female pedestrian suffered extensive leg injuries requiring surgery.

Dean Mannering with an address at Laragh Crescent, Cavan, is charged with failing to remain at the scene to offer assistance, failing to report an occurrence, dangerous driving, and having no insurance nor driving licence, at Drumlark, Cavan Town, on Tuesday of last week, February 17.

Evidence was given by Detective Garda Eamonn McCann who said the incident is alleged to have occurred on the L1513 near Loreto Wood, when a 2009 Opel Astra allegedly driven by the defendant, was captured on its dashcam driving in the direction of Carrickane in a dangerous manner and at high speed.

Det Gda McCann said the vehicle mounted the left-hand footpath, hitting a grass verge and a tree before colliding with Klaudia Motczan, a pedestrian walking in opposite direction who was wearing a high-viz jacket.

The vehicle then spun across the road and came to a stop near the entrance to Loreto College.

The front seat passenger of the car, Brandon Lee, was seriously injured as a result of the accident and was unconscious when paramedics arrived at the scene. He sustained a head injury and was initially taken to Cavan General Hospital, but was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he remains in an induced coma.

Ms Motczan sustained extensive injuries to her leg, the court was told, and had to undergo surgery at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Witnesses at the scene had stated that a young male fled the accident on foot. Det Gda McCann said CCTV obtained from the nearby Cullies filling station shortly before the collision had identified Dean Mannering getting into the front driver’s seat of the car.

Mannering had remained on the run for a week before his arrest at his home at Laragh Cresent yesterday, Tuesday February 24.

Det Gda McCann said when he called to the house the defendant’s father answered the door and gave permission for it to be searched.

The defendant was found hiding in an upstairs wardrobe, and arrested shortly after 1pm, the garda told Inspector Damian Martin, prosecuting.

The court was told that gardaí were objecting to bail on the basis of the seriousness of the charges as well concerns about possible interference with witnesses.

Det Gda McCann also noted that, in the event of a conviction on indictment of causing serious bodily harm to another, a defendant could be liable to a prison sentence of up to 10 years or a fine of up to €20,000 or both.

Julie O’Brien BL sought bail for her client on strict conditions, but Garda Inspector Damian Martin underlined the State’s objections and asked that Mannering be remanded in custody.

In denying bail, Judge Raymond Finnegan remanded the defendant to appear at Cavan District Court tomorrow, Thursday 26.