Two young defendants dead, court hears

Separate cases against two young men at Tralee district court were struck out after the court was told both men, although aged only 24, were now dead.

At least seven people on the Kerry court lists so far this year have died.

Most of the dead were young men. It is suspected they died either through using drugs or suicide.

Killarney solicitor Padraig O’Connell said: “As a senior practitioner in the court I have expressed serious concern and disquiet at the untimely and tragic deaths of young men in their late teens or early 20s.

“Invariably, they have been before the courts on relatively minor matters such as public order, criminal damage and the like,” he said.

All of his clients had come from backgrounds where they were supported by parents, the services had been involved, and though some had left education early, they had returned to the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service and had benefited from that.

“But there appears to be a prevalent drugs scene which is not limited to any one sector but is quite rampant among young people, especially young males,” said Mr O’Connell.

Trevor Breen, aged 25, with an address at a flat at Upper Castle St, Tralee, was number one on the list yesterday, on a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour at Bridge St, Tralee, last April.

His solicitor Padraig O’Connell said Mr Breen had died in “tragic circumstances” on Sunday.

Another defendant, Kevin O’Brien, also aged 24, of Clogher Failí, Caherslee, Tralee, had also died, the court was told.

He was charged with cannabis possession.

Judge James O’Connor struck out the cases.