A Co Meath man whose extradition to Hungary is being sought to serve a three-year sentence imposed there for negligent driving, causing the death of two children, was granted bail by the High Court yesterday.
Ciarán Tobin (41), Cairn Manor, Ratoath, Co Meath, was convicted in his absence by a Hungarian court in 2002 of negligent driving causing the deaths of a five-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl in Budapest in April 2000. A three-year sentence was imposed.
Tobin was arrested at his home last Wednesday on foot of a European arrest warrant, issued by the Budapest authorities.
Applying for bail yesterday, Tobin's counsel, David Keane, said his client was a senior manager with Irish Life plc in the customer services section at Abbey Street, Dublin. Tobin had no previous convictions and was a professional person with two young children. His wife Carol was in court with him.
At the time of the alleged offence, he had been working for Irish Life in Budapest for three years. Mr Keane said his client would abide by any bail conditions set.
Det Sgt Anthony Lenihan, of the Garda headquarters crime branch, said the Garda objected to the granting of bail because of the seriousness of the offences involved - the death of two children in a road traffic accident.
He said Tobin was driving in an inhabited area at 75 to 80km/h and the car had mounted the footpath. Tobin was admitted to bail by the court in Hungary and had to surrender his passport. He had later sought its return from the Hungarian authorities to return to Ireland for a family wedding.