Arrest warrant issued for Wes Hoolahan's brother after failure to turn up in court
A judge has ordered gardai to arrest a brother of Irish football star Wes Hoolahan after he failed to appear in court today to face driving offences.
Darren Hoolahan, 28, was released on bail on February 14 last after he appeared before Dublin District Court on two charges under the Road Traffic Act.
He was arrested for driving without insurance or a licence at Ossory Road, North Strand, Dublin on February 11 last.
The younger brother of Norwich City star Wes had been remanded on bail to appear at Dublin District Court today.
Mr Hoolahan from Portland Row, Dublin 1, has not yet indicated how he will plead to the charges which on conviction can result in a fine and a six-month sentence. However, when the case was called today, his solicitor Yvonne Bambury told Judge Grainne O’Neill that she had not seen him.
Judge O’Neill acceded to a Garda request to issue a bench warrant for Mr Hoolahan’s arrest.
During his previous hearing, gardai attempted to have his bail revoked over unrelated matters in a case due to resume at Tallaght District Court in April.
Judge Timothy Lucey, then presiding, had noted Garda evidence of breaches of a curfew condition and that the accused had not complied with a requirement to sign on at a garda station on 10 occasions.
However, resisting the application to rescind that bail bond, defence solicitor Ms Bambury asked the judge to note her client had signed on at the garda station on 23 other dates.
Judge Lucey had noted that the breach of curfew and the signing-on order had been admitted, however, he had said the accused’s bail would not be revoked.
The judge had told him his bail was not being revoked but he warned that if he did not comply with his bail terms “gardai will very quickly have you arrested” and by breaching the terms “you are just causing trouble for yourself”.
Mr Hoolahan spoke briefly during that hearing saying “yes” to confirm his signature on his bail bond.
