Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Kilkenny courthouse
A lawyer accused of dangerous driving causing death has also been charged with dangerous driving causing serious harm at Kilkenny District Court.
James Hardy of 172 Wright Avenue, Toronto, Ontario was charged with dangerous driving causing serious harm at the R712, Blanchfield, Cliften, Co Kilkenny on June 4, 2022.
Garda Joe Reville gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that the defendant replied ‘no comment’ after the charge.
The defendant is also accused of dangerous driving causing the death of Ollie Heslin (42), of Castleroe, Maganey, Co Kildare on June 4 at the R712, Blanchfield, Cliften, Co Kilkenny.
State Solicitor, Gerry Meaney told the court that there was no objection to extending bail.
Garda John O’Halloran told the court that he served a book of evidence on the defendant.
Mr Meaney said that there are two charges before the court and that the DPP has indicated trial on indictment in respect of the matters before the court.
“The DPP has consented that the defendant be sent forward to the next sittings of Kilkenny Circuit Court on February 21,” he said.
Judge John Brennan issued an alibi warning in relation to the new charge.
Defence counsel asked for the defendant to be excused from appearing in court on February 21 as he is resident in Canada.
“There is no difficulty with that,” said Mr Meaney.
Judge Brennan fixed bail on the defendant’s own bond of €50,000 with a cash lodgement of €35,000 as per the conditions on the original bond and matters were adjourned to the next sittings of Kilkenny Circuit Court on February 21.
The court previously heard that the defendant is a lawyer in Toronto who studied in the UK and spent some time lecturing at an American university before returning to the UK where he completed his articles to work as a lawyer in Canada and secured residency. He has lived there since 2017 and owns a home with his girlfriend.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
