Three young people have been sent forward for trial for the manslaughter of Andrew Dolan in Mullingar.
The 20-year-old biomedical science student from Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim died on New Year’s Day at Beaumount Hospital following an assault at Pearse Street, Mullingar on December 23 last.
Jessica Hughes (19 ) of 3 Greenfield Heights, Rathwire, Killucan, Westmeath; Patrick Farrell (20 ) of Cornamuckla, Broadford, Kildare; and Patrick Daly (22 ) of Mulphedder, Clonard, Meath were served with books of evidence by Detective Garda Peter Kelly, having been charged last month with Mr Dolan’s manslaughter.
At Mullingar District Court, Judge Seamus Hughes refused applications by Hughes and Daly for legal aid, noting that both have in the region of €3,000 in savings.
Daly was home from Australia on holidays at the time of the incident.
He told the court his job is still open for him in Australia, but he has been working part-time as a plasterer in Ireland in recent months.
He hasn’t been working for two weeks but hopes to have further work with his employer in Meath.
Hughes, who works part-time, irregular hours at a doctor’s surgery, has repeated a semester in the veterinary nursing studies she hopes to resume in September.
Both are living at home with their parents, the court heard.
Judge Hughes acknowledged that the manslaughter charge is serious, but said both young people are single with limited outgoings, have savings, and the prospect of work, and can pay their immediate legal bills.
He suggested further applications for legal aid and for junior and senior counsel be made at the Circuit Court and advised that his decision is reviewable.
Farrell made no applications.
Judge Hughes advised each of the defendants that they have 14 days to advise the state of any alibi they may wish to use.
They were remanded on continuing bail to appear before Mullingar Circuit Court sitting in Tullamore on May 8.
Patrick Daly is also charged with assaulting another man on December 23, causing him harm and Patrick Farrell is charged with common assault on a third man, also on December 23 at Pearse Street, Mullingar.
Those charges have also been adjourned, Daly’s to the Circuit Court on May 8 and Farrell’s to Mullingar District Court on June 22.
Mr Dolan’s family were present in court for the appearances which lasted around 20 minutes.
