Young Donegal man charged with causing girlfriend's death in tragic crash
Stephen Maguire
A young Donegal man has been charged with causing his girlfriend's death in a tragic road crash.
Charlotte Kelly, from Letterkenny, died after the car in which she was a passenger crashed on May 1st, 2022.
The car was being driven by Ms Kelly's boyfriend, Conor Lynagh.
Lynagh appeared before Letterkenny District Court charged in connection with the then 17-year-old's death in the single vehicle incident.
The accused, now aged 19, faces two charges.
He is charged that on May 1st, 2022 at Meenlaragh, Glen, Carrigart, he did drive a vehicle without due care and attention, thereby causing the death of another person, namely Charlotte Kelly.
The charge is Contrary to Section 52(1) and 52 (2) (a) of the Road Traffic Act 1961.
He is also charged that on the same date and location, being the holder of a learner permit which required him to be accompanied by and under supervision by a qualified person when driving a mechanically propelled vehicle, did drive a mechanically propelled vehicle, while he was not accompanied by such a qualified person.
Lynagh, of Abbey Village, Kilmacrennan, did not speak during the hearing.
He was accompanied to court by members of his family.
Gardaí gave evidence of serving a book of evidence on the accused at Letterkenny Courthouse.
Garda Sergeant Gerard Dalton said the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided on trial by indictment and to send Lynagh forward to the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court starting on January 23rd next.
Solicitor for the accused, Mr Frank Dorrian, asked for bail on the same conditions.
He also requested that two counsel be allocated to Lynagh for his trial "given the nature of the charges".
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham agreed to both requests.
