Man bailed to attend mother’s funeral fails to turn up in court

A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of a young Kerry man who was granted bail to attend his mother’s funeral but failed to turn up in court yesterday.

Judge Malone said on Wednesday: “I don’t want to deprive anyone of attending their mother’s funeral.”

The judge remanded Michael O’Driscoll Jr on bail until yesterday at Cork District Court despite the objections of gardaí and because of the particular circumstances of his mother’s funeral.

However, Judge Malone warned him on that occasion, “Failure to attend here (yesterday) will lead to a warrant being issued for his arrest and inevitably to custody.”

When the case was called yesterday at Cork District Court, there was no sign of Mr O’Driscoll, aged 20.

On the application of Inspector Bill Duane, Judge Malone issued a warrant for the man’s arrest.

Mr O’Driscoll, of 8 Rathoonare, Tralee, Co Kerry, was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning and charged with four counts in relation to his driving at Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork. Insp Duane said gardaí were opposed to bail being granted to the young man.

He was charged with drink driving, having no licence, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified for a previous incident of dangerous driving.

Eddie Burke, defence solicitor, said he understood the objections from the prosecution. However, he argued in the exceptional circumstances of the funeral of the young man’s mother, he was applying for bail.

Mr Burke said Mr O’Driscoll’s mother’s funeral was taking place in Tralee at 11.30am on Wednesday and that while he would not be able to make it in time for that, he had hoped to travel to Aghadoe, Co Kerry, in time for his mother’s burial there.

The judge released him in those particular circumstances.

Mr Burke

explained during yesterday’s hearing the accused had no intention of driving in the early hours of Wednesday but that he and his father did not want to spend the night in the house where the defendant’s mother died so they decided to travel to a relative’s house in Cork city.

Mr Burke said Mr O’Driscoll’s father was not in a condition to drive so he felt obliged to drive.