Juvenile appears in court charged with multiple offences arising out of Cork crash in which youth died

A 17-year-old boy has appeared in court in Mallow, Co Cork charged with multiple motoring offences arising out of a two car crash which occurred earlier this year on the M8 motorway near Mitchelstown in which a youth died.

The juvenile, who can’t be named because of his young age, was charged with 12 motoring offences including one which related to the death of 16-year-old Johnny Foley from Spur Hill in Cork.

Mr Foley was a front seat passenger in a car allegedly driven by the accused on July 1 last.

Det Garda John Murphy gave evidence of arrest charge and caution. He said he arrested the youth at around 8am today and charged him with twelve offences which relate to incidents in Mitchelstown and its hinterland in the early hours of July 1.

He said the teenager made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution.

The teen was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Johnny Foley. He also faces three charges of dangerous driving causing serious harm to two teenage passengers in his car as well as another female motorist, who sustained injuries in the collision at Ballybeg in Mitchelstown.

The accused was also charged with endangerment at Ballybeg in the town. It is alleged that he drove down the M8 Motorway on the wrong side at speed, leading other drivers to have to take evasive action to prevent collisions.

The teen was also charged with four counts of dangerous driving all on the same date.

He was also charged with attempting to unlawfully take a car without the consent of the owner at Glanworth, North Cork, driving without insurance and driving without a valid driving licence at Ballybeg, Mitchelstown on the same date.

Det Garda Murphy said the DPP had directed trial by indictment on the dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing serious harm and endangerment charges. The DPP has also consented to the accused going forward on a signed plea of guilty on these charges.

Sgt Linda O’Leary applied for a remand in detention in the case until later this month.

Judge Colm Roberts remanded the juvenile in detention at Oberstown Children Detention Campus to appear again at Mallow District Court by video link on November 14.

Free legal aid was granted in the case and Cathal Lombard, solicitor, was assigned to represent the youth.

The funeral mass of Johnny Foley took place on July 5 in the Church of the Assumption in Ballyphehane. He was laid to rest at St James’ cemetery in Chetwynd.

Johnny is survived by his parents, Michael and Maggie, his stepmother Lilly-Ann and siblings Michael, Luke, James, Mary-Ellen and Lisa.