A MAN charged in connection with the death of mother of one, Marguerita ‘Maggie’ O’Rourke (née Sheridan) has been remanded in continuing custody.
Danny O’Donoghue (42), of Lower Main Street Rathkeale, County Limerick, is charged with dangerous driving causing Ms O’Rourke’s death, on December 21.
Ms O’Rourke (21), of Roches Row, Rathkeale, suffered critical injuries and died after a van collided with gates she was standing by at Bank Place, Well Lane, Rathkeale.
Mr O’Donoghue is also facing charges of causing criminal damage to a set of gates; threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Patrick Sheridan; producing a machete during the course of making the alleged threat; and causing criminal damage to Mr Sheridan’s van, also in Rathkeale on December 21.
This Friday (December 27), Mr O’Donoghue appeared before a vacation sitting of Limerick District Court via video-link from Limerick Prison where he is being held in custody on remand, and spoke to confirm his name and that he could hear and see the court proceedings.
Prosecuting Garda Sergeant Sean Murray, Roxboro Road Garda Station, said that Gardaí were awaiting further directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and he applied for a four-week remand in custody.
Sergeant Murray said a Garda file was being prepared for the DPP.
Solicitor John Herbert said the accused was consenting to the State’s application for a four-week remand in custody.
Judge Adrian Harris granted the State’s application and remanded Mr O’Donoghue in continuing custody to appear before Limerick District Court on January 21 for DPP directions.
Ms O’Rourke, her husband Denis, and family, had just celebrated the birth of the couple’s first child, Edward, almost four weeks ago.
Several hundred people attended a candlelit vigil for the young mother in Rathkeale on Christmas Eve, where balloons were released into the air.
Ms O’Rourke’s remains will be reposed at Cross’ Funeral Home in Limerick City from 2pm this Saturday (December 28).
Her funeral will take place at St Mary’s Church, Rathkeale, at 12.30pm on Sunday (December 29), with burial afterwards in St Joseph’s Cemetery in Rathkeale.
John Sheridan, the victim’s father, paid tribute to his daughter and described her as “a true legend” who loved horses.
The deceased’s brother, Freddy Sheridan, posted a tribute online, saying: “My first Christmas without you and it is one billion percent not the same, Marguerita, and it’s never going to be the same without you, not just at Christmas, my life will never be the same Maggie, but you left us a very special boy, I know his mama should be here with him but unfortunately life didn’t go that way.”
“Marguerita, I can make a book with all the memories we have but I just don’t have the strength, my life will never be the same, it took me five days to say this, Rest in Peace Marguerita, I can’t believe I had to say it, love you my sister.”
The State Pathologist, Dr Sally Anne Collis, performed a post mortem on Ms O’Rourke’s remains.
Investigating Gardaí said that, for “operational reasons”, they were not releasing the results of the autopsy.
Ms O’Rourke is survived by her husband Denis, son Edward, parents John and Doite, and siblings Eileen, Paddy, and Freddy.
