A YOUNG WOMAN who was driving when a car crash claimed the lives of four of her close friends appeared at Athy District Court today.

Dayna Kearney, 21, is charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of Athy resident Aisling Middleton (19) and Carlow natives Niamh Doyle (19), Chermaine Carroll (20) and Gemma Nolan (19).

The five young women had been ice-skating together and were returning home when the collision occurred on 6 January 2015.

The crash between Ms Kearney’s Volkswagen Polo and a van took place on the N78 Athy Link Road at Burtown.

Ms Kearney is now also facing a new charge of driving a defective vehicle.

Defence solicitor Seamus Taafe requested the return of Ms Kearney’s passport. The court heard that she wishes to travel to the United States for work this summer.

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Judge Desmond Zaidan said that the matter is up to the state but Garda Inspector Gerry Egan said it “would be better dealt with before the Circuit Court”.

The case was adjourned until 21 June when it will return to Naas Circuit Court.

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