Motorist charged with causing death of girlfriend in horror road crash

A County Donegal man has been charged with causing his girlfriend's death in a road traffic crash in 2022.

Charlotte Kelly died after the car in which she was a passenger crashed on June 1, 2022.

The car was being driven by Ms Kelly's boyfriend, Conor Lynagh.

Lynagh of Kilmacrennan appeared before Letterkenny District Court charged in connection with the death of the then 17-year-old, who was from Letterkenny.

The accused man, now aged 19, faces two charges.

He is charged that on May 1, 2022 at Meenlaragh, Glen, Carrigart, he did drive a vehicle without due care and attention thereby causing the death of another person, namely Charlotte Kelly.

The charge is Contrary to Section 52(1) and 52 (2) (a) of the Road Traffic Act 1961.

He is also charged that on the same date and location, being the holder of a learner permit which required him to be accompanied by and under supervision by a qualified person when driving a mechanically propelled vehicle, did drive a mechanically propelled vehicle, while he was not accompanied by such a qualified person.

The late Charlotte Kelly

Lynagh, with an address at Abbey Village, Kilmacrennan, did not speak during the hearing.

He was accompanied to court by members of his family.

Gardai gave evidence of serving a book of evidence on Lynagh at Letterkenny Courthouse.

Sergeant Gerard Dalton said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had decided the case should proceed on indictment and he asked that Lynagh be sent forward for trial at the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court, starting on January 23 next.

Mr Frank Dorrian, solicitor for Lynagh, asked for bail on the same conditions.

He also requested that two counsel be allocated to Lynagh for his trial ‘given the nature of the charges’.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham agreed to both requests and made an order returning Lynagh for trial.