Colin Whelan relative ordered to pay for breach of bail
A close relative of a murder suspect who jumped bail and absconded to Spain has been ordered to pay €1,000 for breach of bail by a judge at the Central Criminal court today.
Mr Jimmy Brazil, a close relative of Mr Colin Whelan, aged 33, who was extradited from Spain last week, was directed by Mr Justice Paul Carney to pay €1,000 of a €4,190 cash lodgement he made as part of Mr Whelan’s bail conditions.
Mr Brazil also went independent surety on a bail bond of €12,570.
Making his direction, Mr Justice Paul Carney said Mr Whelan had "absented himself from the trial" for the murder of his wife which was due to go ahead in October last year.
Mr Brazil, who was ordered to appear in court today "to answer for the accused non-attendance" at his trial, appealed for leniency through his solicitor. His solicitor told the court his client "was as surprised as anybody" when Mr Whelan disappeared and "organised searches himself".
He said Mr Brazil was a family man with a wife and three children and a close relative of the accused. "Give him a chance. He will make a loss on this," he said as he appealed for leniency.
Mr Justice Carney insisted: "The credibility of the bail system requires that he suffer the loss Mr Whelan’s betrayal subjected him to" and estreated him €1000.
Mr Whelan, who was also present in court today, will stand trial for the murder of his 27-year-old wife Mary in November.
