A man has been remanded in custody after being extradited from the UK and charged with 10 offences in connection with the death of a man in a hit and run in Cork three years ago.
The charges against Martin Linehan (36) arise out a fatal traffic collision in which Gabriel Lege (25), a French national, was killed while crossing the street at George's Quay in Cork in October 2013.
Det Garda Anne O’Flynn told Cork District Court she arrested Mr Linehan at Cork airport on Tuesday at 7.30pm.
He was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Lege at George’s Quay and with dangerous driving at both George’s Quay and Lower Glanmire Road on October 31st, 2013.
He was also charged with driving without insurance, driving without a valid driving licence, driving with a false insurance disc and driving a dangerous defective vehicle on George’s Quay.
He was also charged with failing to keep a vehicle at the scene of a collision, failing to report an accident and failing to remain at the scene of an accident all on George’s Quay on the same date.
Remand
Insp Brian O'Donovan said gardaí were seeking a remand in custody and defence solicitor Michael Quinlan told the court his client was not applying for bail at this point.
Judge Olann Kelleher granted the State's application and remanded Mr Linehan in custody for a week for the DPP's instructions to appear again at Cork District Court on July 19th.
He granted free legal aid to Mr Linehan, formerly of Lagan Grove in Mayfield in Cork but now with an address at Oaks Lane, Newbury Park, Essex in the UK.
Mr Lege, from Olonne-sur-Mer in the Vendée, died in Cork University Hospital from injuries sustained in the collision.
An inquest at Cork Coroners Court has heard that Mr Lege died from shock and haemorrhage due to blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen, and brain injury, due to a road traffic accident.
Mr Lege had been working for Apple at its plant at Hollyhill on Cork's northside and had been in Cork for about three years.
Following his death, Mr Lege’s mother, Sylvie paid tribute to her son’s colleagues at Apple and the people of Cork for the support and sympathy they had shown her and her family on their loss.
“Gabriel was knocked down in the prime of his youth, in his joy in life, in his love for this town and this country that he appreciated so much. His head was filled with plans for the future, he loved life.”
