Jamie McGrenaghan, the teenager accused of dangerous driving causing serious harm to a young garda who died yesterday will be freed from custody today after his mother was approved as a suitable independent bail person.
The 18-year-old, who was granted bail in the High Court on Monday, remained in St Patrick's Institution as Buncrana District Court in Donegal was assessing the suitability of his mother, Margaret Rita McGrenaghan, to
stand €4,000 bail.
The High Court had set bail at €100 personal surety and €4,000 independent surety on condition the bailsperson was acceptable to the local District Court .
Judge Kevin Kilrane was told at today's Buncrana hearing that Ms McGrenaghan had the €4,000 and €2,000 was already lodged in court.
Inspector David Kelly said the prosecution had no objection to her as a bailsperson.
Judge Kilrane was informed of the bail conditions as laid down by the High Court. McGrenaghan, a Leaving Cert student of Gortnacraw, Kerrykeel, is to attend school daily, observe a 10pm to 8 am curfew, live at
home, be sober, refrain from contacting his co-accused Cathal Dunleavy (19) and not to apply for a passport.
He is also to sign on daily with gardai.
Judge Kilrane approved Ms McGrenaghan as independent surety. She left the court shortly after the brief hearing with her solicitor Ciaran O'Gorman.
Her son is expected to be released from St Patrick's Institution later today. He is charged with dangerous driving causing harm to Garda Robert McCallion on March 26 at Tara Court, Letterkenny.
He is also accused of taking another vehicle, a 15-year-old car, without the permission of owner Tonia O'Brien, at Tara Court on the same occasion.
Before the case was heard yesterday, Judge Kilrane extended condolences on his own behalf and on behalf of the people of Ireland to the family and colleagues of Garda McCallion who died at the age of 29 in Beaumont Hospital yesterday after his family agreed to his life-support system being turned off.
McGrenaghan is due to appear before Harristown District Court in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon on April 17th.
His co-accused, Cathal Dunleavy, who remains in custody, will also appear in court on the same day.
He is serving out the remainder of a nine-months sentence for petty crime from which he was on compassionate release when he was arrested.