A 16-year-old youth was yesterday charged at Ennis District Court with dangerous driving causing the death of two teenage friends in Co Clare last October.
The youth was the driver in a crash which claimed the lives of friends and neighbours, Stacey Haugh (16) and Lorna O'Mahony (13), at Moyarta, Carrigaholt, on October 17th last. The 1984 car in which the youth was driving was bought for €60 earlier in Galway city. Stacey's younger brother, Karl, was also in the car and is receiving ongoing treatment for his injuries. At an earlier court sitting, the youth - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance and a driver's licence on October 17th last at Moyarta, Carrigaholt.
In court yesterday, Garda Niall Naughton said that the DPP had directed that a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of the two girls be brought against the youth.
Garda Naughton said that when charged with the offence yesterday, the youth made no reply. He has been remanded on bail in relation to the previous charge on condition that he remain at a residential centre in Galway. However, the garda told the court that the youth absconded from the centre on January 6th and was missing until January 12th when he admitted himself to the psychiatric unit at Galway regional hospital.
Garda Naughton said the youth had broken all his bail conditions and there was no indication he would turn up for his trial.
Judge Joseph Mangan re- manded the youth in custody to St Patrick's Institution to appear before Kilrush District Court next Wednesday.
