Former Irish international rugby player Eddie Halvey appeared before Nenagh District Court yesterday on a charge of driving with excess alcohol on April 1st last.
The case arose following a collision on the N7 near Toomevara, Co Tipperary, involving a car and Mr Halvey's Opel Frontera 4x4, which resulted in the death of 16-year-old Kevin Walsh of Sycamore Drive, Bruff, Co Limerick.
The court heard the 35-year-old former Ireland and Munster rugby star, with an address at Alandale Hall, South Circular Road, Limerick, was arrested in the townland of Coole, Toomevara, at 5.33am on April 1st.
He was taken to Nenagh Garda station where he was charged on suspicion of drink-driving, contrary to Section 49 (4) of the Road Traffic Act. After caution, he made no reply to the charge.
Mr Halvey sat at the back of the court during the brief hearing. He was represented by Noel O'Meara, a Nenagh-based solicitor.
Supt Catherine Kehoe of Nenagh Garda station said time was still required for files to be considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Judge Michael Reilly acceded to her request for an adjournment of the case to June 16th to allow time for directions from the DPP. He remanded Mr Halvey on continuing bail until that date.
A small number of bystanders heckled the defendant as he left the court, followed by a large group of press photographers.
Among those present earlier in the courtroom to hear the case were relatives of the late Kevin Walsh. The teenager was a back-seat passenger and was travelling to the north with his two uncles, Declan and Vincent Tierney, to buy a car on the date of the fatal crash.
They had stopped to alert gardaí about cattle on the road when the collision occurred. Mr Halvey, who was believed to be travelling to Dublin to attend a rugby match, was uninjured.