Man charged over crash that killed boy (9) in Bundoran gets time to consider position

A man charged with dangerous driving causing the death of a nine-year-old boy in Bundoran has been given until July to decide whether or not he will plead guilty.

Sergee Kelly has been charged in connection with a fatal road traffic collision, where Ronan Wilson (9), from Kildress in County Tyrone, was killed last September.

Kelly appeared before Judge Brendan O'Reilly at Ballyshannon District Court on Friday. He will now mull over his options with his legal team before returning to court in July.

A 23-year-old with an address at Upper Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Kelly was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Ronan Wilson on September 23, 2023 at Atlantic Way, Bundoran.

The charge is contrary to Section 53 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 as substituted by Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act (No. 2) Act, 2011.

Kelly was accompanied by his father to court.

Members of Ronan Wilson's family were also present in court for the short mention of the matter.

Disclosure has been received by Kelly's legal team, the court was told.

Solicitor Mr John Anderson told the court that they require time to meet with counsel and sought a two-month adjournment.

He said the application was “to indicate if we will go forward on a signed plea”. He said: “Hopefully we will, but we have to formalise our instructions.”

An Garda Siochana did not oppose the application.

Judge O'Reilly adjourned the matter until July when either a plea is to be tendered or a book of evidence served on Kelly.

Last month, Kelly was only granted bail by Judge Monika Leech after a €10,000 cash lodgement was made.
When charged with the offence in early April, Kelly replied: 'No'

A charge of dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment.

An application for Kelly's bail conditions to be varied in order to enable work at sea on a fishing trawler was previously withdrawn.

Under the terms of his bail, Kelly is prohibited from entering Bundoran and has also been ordered to stay out of Northern Ireland.

Previously, Kelly was charged with having been the driver of a vehicle, which was involved in the occurrence of injury to Ronan Wilson, did fail to offer said person assistance.

He has also been charged with failing to stop and with failing to remain at the scene after the incident, which occurred at around 9.20pm on September 23, 2023.