The High Court has granted bail to a 29-year-old man wanted in Australia on charges of dangerous driving causing the deaths of two Irish backpackers near the city of Perth in 2007.
The Australian authorities are seeking the extradition of Eamon Mark Driver, with an address at Stanley Heights, Slane, Co Meath on charges of causing the death of Colm Reilly (20), from Slane, Co Meath, and Kiara Duncan (20), from Kentstown, Co Meath, by dangerous driving.
Mr Driver, a single man currently on disability, is alleged to have been the driver of a Toyota Corolla hatchback that was involved in a fatal crash that occurred around 11pm on 31 October, 2007 at Bedford, which is a suburb of Perth in Western Australia.
Today at the High Court Mr Justice John Edwards granted Mr Driver bail "on stringent conditions".
These include a surety of €75,000, that he sign twice a week with the gardaí, reside at his home address, not leave the jurisdiction, and be of good behaviour.
The bond was set at €75,000 after the judge was told Mr Driver expected to receive "a six-figure payment" as compensation for injuries he sustained in a road traffic accident, where the other side had admitted liability, which occurred in 2009.
Gardaí had expressed their concerns about granting Mr Driver bail.
Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit said that "from the beginning" Mr Driver's attitude towards the charges he faces has been "one of evasion".
He said Mr Driver left Australia shortly after the accident.
The detective added the Australian authorities claim that around 2009 Mr Driver was in contact by telephone with them and had indicated to them he intended to return, but did not do so.
Lawyers for Mr Driver said their client would abide by any bail conditions set by the court.
He had been living openly in Ireland since his return from Australia.
He suffered serious and permanent injuries to his leg in the 2009 road traffic accident and will require surgery in the future.
The judge granted Mr Driver bail, but in light of the compensation payment refused an application by Mr Driver's lawyers for a recommendation that their legal costs be paid by the State.
The matter was adjourned to October.
The warrant seeking Mr Driver's extradition alleges he lost control of the car at a bend and careered across the centre medium ploughing into an oncoming vehicle.
It is further alleged that Mr Driver had been travelling at excess speed at the time.
At the time the car contained six passengers, including Mr Reilly and Ms Duncan. Front seat passenger Mr Reilly died on impact, and Ms Duncan died three days later in hospital.
A warrant seeking Mr Driver's arrest was issued by the Australian Attorney General's office after Mr Driver failed to appear in Perth Magistrate's Court to face charges over the crash.
