Man facing charges in stolen bike death crash

A MAN who was on a stolen motorbike when it crashed, killing another passenger, will face criminal charges.

Cork’s city coroner was asked yesterday to adjourn the inquest into the death of Denis Kelleher earlier this year until the criminal proceedings have been completed.

Dr Cullinane agreed and put the inquest back for mention in early 2009.

Mr Kelleher, 29, from Ardmore Avenue, Knocknaheeny, Cork, died at the scene of the crash just after 10pm on January 8 after the 600cc Honda motorbike on which he was travelling apparently went out of control at the “brewery corner” on Leitrim Street leading onto Cork’s North Ring Road.

A second man was seriously injured in the crash and was rushed to Cork University Hospital. He has since recovered.

The motorcycle had been reported stolen just minutes before in the St Luke’s area of the city.

It had cut across the base of St Patrick’s Hill onto Richmond Hill, where it turned right and went against traffic in the direction of the Statoil service station on Leitrim Street.

Then it turned right, in the direction of Mallow, but within 200 metres it went out of control and crashed.

No other vehicle was involved in the accident.

A file was sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions which recommended that charges should issue in relation to the incident.

Those proceedings have now been initiated, Inspector Ger O’Mahony told the inquest.

It is understood a man is due before the courts within weeks.

Mr Kelleher, who had 40 previous convictions, was caught four years ago trying to hotwire a car on the same street where he died.

He received a suspended sentence.

He had been released just weeks before he died from a two-year prison sentence for stealing a handbag from a French student in November 2005.