Man charged in connection with death of 18-year-old woman in Letterkenny

A man is to stand trial following the death of a teenage woman in a road traffic incident.

Brendan Friel, aged 23, appeared at Letterkenny District Court.

He was charged following the death of Chloe Gallagher Fanneran in Letterkenny on November 9, 2022.

He is charged with both dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of cocaine.

Ms Gallagher Fanneran, who was aged just 18 and from Leitir Beag, Crievesmith, Letterkenny, died following a two car collision at Magheranan, Letterkenny.

Friel was charged that he did drive a vehicle in a manner (including speed) which having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including the condition of the vehicle, the nature, condition and use of such place and the amount of traffic which then actually was or might reasonably be expected then to be therein) was dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of another person.

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

Friel, of Newmill Road, Ramelton, Co Donegal, is also charged with driving under the influence.

He is charged that he did drive a mechanically propelled vehicle registration number 05L383 while there was present in your body a quantity of a drug, namely Benzoylecgonine (cocaine) specified in column (2) of the Schedule to the Road Traffic Act 2010 such that, within 3 hours after so driving, the concentration of the said drug in your blood was greater than the concentration specified in respect of the said drug in column (3) of the said Schedule, to wit 98.0 NG / MLBenzoylecgonine.

The charge is Contrary to section 4(1A) of the Road Traffic Act 2010 as inserted by section 8(a) of the Road Traffic Act 2016 and contrary to section 4(5) of the Road Traffic Act 2010.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has indicated trial by indictment at Letterkenny Circuit Court.

Mr Rory O'Brien, solicitor for the accused, said Gardai had no objection to bail for Friel.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham adjourned the case until February to allow for the service of a book of evidence in the case.

Legal aid was also granted to Friel.