A member of An Garda Siochana has appeared in court charged with a fatal alleged hit and run that claimed the life of a popular GAA coach. Garda Michael Ball, with an address at Drogheda Garda Station, appeared before Dundalk District Court on Tuesday, December 9.
Garda Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run
Garda Michael Ball, aged in his 30s, appeared before Dundalk District Court. He has been suspended from duty and charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Niall McEneaney on March 17, 2024, and failing to keep the vehicle at the scene.
The dangerous driving charge alleges that Mr. Ball “in a public place, drove a vehicle in a manner including speed, which having regard to all the circumstances of the case, was dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of another person, namely Niall McEneaney, contrary to Section 53(1) and 53(2) of the Road Traffic Act.” He is also charged with failing to keep the vehicle at the scene of the incident ‘whilst knowing that Niall McEneaney was dead’ or ‘being reckless as to whether the injury so caused resulted in his death, and did so with intent to escape civil or criminal liability. This offence is contrary to Section 106 (1) (B) and Section 106 (3)(AB) of the Road Traffic Act 2006.
The case was adjourned until a date in January. Earlier, Fiosru, formerly the Garda Ombudsman Commission, investigated the incident and a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who directed the charges against Mr. Ball.
Niall MacEneaney, 42, was struck by a vehicle on the Rathmullan Road in Drogheda, Co Louth last year. The vehicle was allegedly registered to a serving garda who was off-duty at the time. Mr. MacEneaney, a popular GAA coach, was found dead in the early hours of St Patrick’s Day morning, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. Mr. Ball was arrested in connection with the investigation last April and interviewed by the Garda Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), now Fiosru.
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