Man charged in connection with boy’s death “entitled to work”

January 20, 2024

A young man charged with a hit-and-run collision in which a nine-year-old boy was killed in Bundoran has sought the removal of a condition that he sign on at a Garda station three times a week.

Sergee Kelly, who has been charged in connection with a collision in September that resulted in the death of Ronan Wilson, was before Ballyshannon District Court on Friday.

Gardai have confirmed that they will object to a request which has been tabled as Kelly is seeking to return to work.

Solicitor Mr Gerry McGovern, representing Kelly, told Friday’s court sitting that he was seeking for the removal of one of Kelly’s bail conditions which states that he must sign on at Ballyshannon Garda Station three times a week.

Mr McGovern said he was applying for the condition to be removed completely ‘so that he can work’.

Inspector Angela Cummins said gardai would be objecting. Inspector Cummins said there were a ‘number of reasons’ for the objection but, as the investigating member was not available for Friday’s court sitting, she sought a short adjournment.

Inspector Cummins suggested that the proposed employer should also be in court.

Kelly was put in the witness box by Mr McGovern and told the court that the proposed employer had been in a car crash in recent days and was in hospital. Kelly told Judge Michael Connellan that he was in a position to furnish the court with a letter from the employer.

“The difficulty is he hasn’t worked since the incident,” Mr McGovern said. “It is a serious matter, but the young man is entitled to work.”

Judge Connellan adjourned the matter until Thursday next, January 25, at Sligo District Court.

Nine-year-old Ronan, from Kildress in County Tyrone, was killed in the incident on Atlantic Way at around 9.20pm on September 23, 2023.

Kelly, a 23-year-old with an address at Upper Mullaghmore, County Sligo, has been charged with three offences under the Road Traffic Act, and is currently on bail under strict conditions.

Kelly has been charged that, having been the driver of a vehicle, which was involved in the occurrence of injury to Ronan Wilson, did fail to offer said person assistance. He has also been charged with failing to stop and with failing to remain at the scene.

Kelly has been prohibited from entering Bundoran and has been ordered to stay out of Northern Ireland.

Directions in the case are outstanding from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and a technical report is awaited.

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