LAST UPDATE | 24 Dec 2024

A MAN WAS remanded in custody tonight, charged in connection with the death of Marguerita ‘Maggie’ Sheridan, who died following a fatal collision at Rathkeale, County Limerick, last Saturday.

The accused, Danny O’Donoghue, 42, of Lower Main Street, Rathkeale, appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court, charged with five separate offences.

O’Donoghue is charged with one count of dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Sheridan, aged 21, at Bank Place, Well Lane, Rathkeale, on 21 December. 

The accused was charged with one count of causing criminal damage to a set of steel gates at the same location on the same date.

O’Donoghue was also charged with one count of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a Patrick Sheridan, at Ballywilliam, Rathkeale, on 21 December, and he faces one count of producing a machete during the course of making the alleged threat to Mr Sheridan.

Lastly, O’Donoghue was also charged with one count of causing criminal damage to Patrick Sheridan’s van at Ballywilliam, Rathkeale, also on 21 December. 

Detective Garda Elaine O’Keeffe of Newcastle West Garda Station gave evidence in court that she arrested O’Donoghue at 6pm on Tuesday for the purposes of charging him with the five offences.

Detective Garda O’Keeffe said O’Donoghue “made no reply” to all of the five charges.

Inspector Liz Kennedy said Gardaí were “objecting to bail”.

O’Donoghue’s solicitor, Mike O’Donnell, said he was not making any application for bail.

O’Donoghue, who was supported in court by family members, did not speak during the brief court hearing.

Judge Alec Gabbett remanded O’Donoghue in custody to Limerick Prison to appear via video-link before Limerick District Court on 27 December. 

Marguerita Sheridan, who gave birth to her first child last month, was critically injured when a van allegedly struck a set of gates she was standing beside in the town last Saturday afternoon. She was later pronounced dead at University Hospital Limerick.

Gardaí said they had recovered a van they suspected was involved in the fatal incident.

Earlier today, several hundred people attended a vigil in Ms Sheridan’s memory in Rathkeale.

Lilac coloured balloons and giant ’21′ balloons, reflecting Ms Sheridan’s young age, were released into the air at the somber vigil.

A local priest led the Sheridan family, friends and neighbours, in hushed prayers at the ruins of an abbey located in the town.

John Sheridan, Ms Sheridan’s father, had posted a notice on Facebook inviting people to “gather in remembrance” of his daughter at the candle-lit gathering. The notice described the late Ms Sheridan as “a cherished soul taken too soon”.

John Sheridan also posted videos of his daughter preparing for her wedding day in December last year.

The heartbroken father posted a message online thanking the emergency services who went to assist his daughter, as well as neighbours and friends who rallied around the family since the tragedy.

“I want to say thanks to the Guards, the nurses, the doctors, the priests, the settled people in Rathkeale and the Travelling people for their messages, the local shops, hotels, and for everyone who called to my house ,” Mr Sheridan said.

“Rest in peace my beautiful daughter. Marguerita Sheridan you are true legend,” Mr Sheridan stated.

Posting photos of the his daughter on horseback, Mr Sheridan added: “Rip my daughter Maggie, her life was horses.”

On Monday, Gardaí said a post mortem had been completed on Ms Sheridan’s body to help determine the nature of her injuries and the cause of her death, but that, “for operational reasons”, they were not disclosing the results of the autopsy.