A 24-year-old man said to gardaí, “Tell his Ma I’m sorry,” when charged over the death of his best friend, who was killed in a collision after an alleged taxi hijacking in Dublin last Sunday.
Joseph Robinson, of Forbes Lane, Dublin, was arrested and held for questioning at Kilmainham Garda station, where a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Doyle was put to him on Monday night.
Mr Doyle (25), from Cuffe Street in Dublin, was fatally injured after a Skoda Octavia crashed into a lamppost at Mount Brown, near St James’s Hospital, at about 8.45am last Sunday. The car then hit a line of parked cars.
Mr Doyle was thrown from the car and one of his arms was severed. He died in hospital shortly after the crash.
Mr Robinson was denied bail when he appeared at Dublin District Court yesterday.
Judge Michael Walsh heard there were disputes over claims the taxi was hijacked and that Doyle and Robinson were best friends who had been taking drugs with the car owner prior to the incident.
The court heard that there was an objection to bail due to the seriousness of the charge, which can carry a 10-year sentence.
Garda David O’Hanlon said it would be alleged the taxi was hijacked at Oliver Bond Street and Robinson drove it “at extreme, excessive high speed through Dublin 8”.
He said Robinson was intoxicated to such an extent that he had been unable to control the car. He said the accused was arrested 300m from the crash, made admissions and was captured on CCTV fleeing the scene.
Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said the accused had claimed he had been taking drugs with the taxi driver for some hours, and that he had consent to drive the man’s car. The garda agreed that when interviewed a second time, the taxi owner said he had been taking drugs with Robinson. However, he maintains he had been assaulted and dragged from his car before it was taken without his consent.
The judge said he was refusing bail due to the seriousness of the case.
Robinson, who was granted free legal aid, has not yet indicated how he will plead and did not address the court. He will face his next hearing today at Cloverhill District Court.