A 37-year-old man charged with manslaughter over the death of a man in a road traffic incident in Clonmany has been released on bail.
Kevin Grant whose address is listed as 21 Parkmore, Buncrana, was granted bail at Ballyshannon District Court on Friday, December 20. However, he was remanded in custody by Judge Sandra Murphy as all bail conditions could not be met on the day.
He appeared before Judge Brendan O’Reilly at Glenties District Court on Monday, December 23, where €3,000 of his own bond was lodged, as was a further €3,000 independent surety.
Inspector Sean McDaid told the court that the defendant claimed he had lost his passport, and therefore could not surrender it as per his bail terms.
The judge asked that Grant give an undertaking not to apply for a new passport or any other travel document.
Solicitor Frank Dorrian said that his client gave that undertaking.
The defendant was released on bail to appear before Buncrana District Court on February 13 for service of the book of evidence.
At the recent sitting in Ballyshannon District Court, a charge under the Non-Fatal Offences the Person Act was withdrawn, and Sergeant Killian Callaghan formally charged Grant with manslaughter contrary to Common Law.
It is alleged that Grant did unlawfully kill James Devine at Main Street, Clonmany on May 12, 2024.
Sergeant Callaghan told the court that the defendant made no reply to the charge.
Grant faces a number of other charges for alleged offences in relation to the incident.
Inspector Anthony Coyle told the Ballyshannon court sitting that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consented to Grant being sent forward on indictment to the circuit court on one count of manslaughter, three breaches of obligations following a road traffic collision, two counts of dangerous driving, and one count each of refusal or failure to give a blood or urine sample, driving without insurance, failure to produce insurance, failing to state whether using a vehicle at a given time, and driving without a licence.
Grant, who was represented in court by solicitor Frank Dorrian, was granted bail. However, he was remanded in custody until all bail conditions could be met.
Judge Sandra Murphy imposed the following bail conditions: the defendant’s own bond of €5,000 of which €3,000 is to be lodged; independent surety of €5,000 of which €3,000 is to be lodged; that he not commit any offence and be of good behaviour; reside at given addresses in Donegal and Wicklow; sign on as per arrangements at agreed garda stations in Donegal and Wicklow; observe a curfew between the hours of 10pm and 5am, and be available to gardaí calling at the addresses between those hours; have no contact in any way including social media and fake social media accounts with any persons connected to the case; surrender his passport within 24 hours and do not apply for a new one.