Backpackers Colm Reilly and Kiara Duncan were killed in a car crash in Perth in 2007.

The High Court has granted bail to an Irishman who allegedly caused the deaths of two Irish backpackers near Perth in 2007.

Australian authorities are seeking the extradition of Eamonn Mark Driver, 29, of Stanley Heights, Slane, Co Meath, on charges of causing the deaths of Colm Reilly, 20, a builder from Slane, and Kiara Duncan, 20, a beautician from Kentstown, Co Meath, by dangerous driving.

Mr Driver, a single man currently living on disability payments, was granted bail by Mr Justice John Edwards “on stringent conditions”. These include a surety of €75,000, that he sign in twice a week with gardaí, reside at his home address, not leave the jurisdiction and be of good behaviour.

The Australian Attorney-General’s Department told the Irish Echo: “On 15 September 2011, a 29-year-old Irish national was arrested in Ireland pursuant to an extradition request made by Australia.

The Irish national is wanted to face prosecution in Western Australia for two offences of dangerous driving occasioning death. The granting of bail and the consideration of Australia’s extradition request are matters for Irish authorities and it is not appropriate that we comment further.”

The bond was set at €75,000 after the judge was told that Mr Driver expected to receive “a six-figure payment” as compensation for injuries he sustained in a road crash in 2009, where the other side had admitted liability. The judge refused an application by Mr Driver’s lawyers for a recommendation that their legal costs be paid by the state.

Gardaí had expressed their concerns about granting Mr Driver bail.

Det Sgt Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit said that “from the beginning”, Mr Driver’s attitude towards the charges he faced has been “one of evasion”.

:: Shattered pelvis

He said Mr Driver left Australia shortly after the incident.

He said that the Australian authorities claimed that in about 2009, Mr Driver was in contact by telephone with them and had indicated that he intended to return, but did not do so. He had been living openly in Ireland since his return from Australia.

He said that he had suffered serious and permanent injuries to his leg in the 2009 road crash and would require surgery in the future.

It is alleged that Mr Driver was behind the wheel during the accident on Halloween night, 2007, which resulted in the deaths of Ms Duncan and Mr Reilly, and left Mr Driver himself in hospital with a shattered pelvis.

Mr Driver allegedly lost control of the Toyota Corolla hatchback he was driving on Broun Avenue, in the Broadford area of the city, careering across the median of the road, flipping, and crashing head-first into an oncoming car, driven by a 63-year-old woman, who escaped the crash without serious injury.

Up to seven people are believed to have been in the car at the time of the crash, with four of those passengers escaping without serious injuries.

Mr Reilly died instantly, while Ms Duncan passed away three days later in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth.

A warrant for Mr Driver’s arrest was issued by the Australian attorney general’s office last year after he failed to appear in Perth magistrate’s court to face charges in connection with the crash.

Backpackers Colm Reilly and Kiara Duncan were killed in a car crash in Perth in 2007.

An Irishman who allegedly caused the deaths of two Irish backpackers in Perth in 2007 has been arrested by gardaí.

Australian authorities are seeking the extradition of Eamon Mark Driver, 29, of Stanley Heights, Slane, Co Meath, on charges of causing the deaths of Colm Reilly, 20, a builder from Slane, and Kiara Duncan, 20, a beautician from Kentstown, Co Meath, by dangerous driving.

A spokesperson for Western Australia Police told the Irish Echo: “Currently he has been arrested by Irish authorities and his extradition has been approved. However, this is currently under an appeal process. We are waiting to be informed of the outcome of the appeal process.”

It is alleged that Mr Driver was behind the wheel during the accident on Halloween night, 2007, which resulted in the deaths of Ms Duncan and Mr Reilly, and left Mr Driver himself in hospital with a shattered pelvis.

Mr Driver allegedly lost control of the Toyota Corolla hatchback he was driving on Broun Avenue, in the Bedford area of the city, careering across the median of the road, flipping, and crashing head-first into an oncoming car, driven by a 63-year-old woman, who escaped the crash without serious injury.

:: Warrant for arrest

Up to seven people are believed to have been in the car at the time of the crash, with four of those passengers escaping without serious injuries.

Mr Reilly died instantly, while Ms Duncan passed away three days later in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth.

A warrant for Mr Driver’s arrest was issued by the Australian attorney general’s office last year after he failed to appear in Perth magistrate’s court to face charges in connection with the fatal crash.

Det Garda Sgt Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit told the court that he had arrested Mr Driver at his home in Co Meath on foot of a warrant that had been previously endorsed by the High Court on Wednesday last week.

Det Garda Sgt Kirwan said when the charges contained in the warrant were put to Mr Driver, he replied: “I know what these are about.”

Mr Justice Brian McGovern remanded Mr Driver, who did not speak during the hearing, in custody and made the matter returnable to a sitting of the court later this month.

The CFMEU NSW has recently recovered money for Irish backpackers who were being exploited while working as bricklayers in Sydney.

The CFMEU NSW has recently recovered money for Irish backpackers who were being exploited while working as bricklayers in Sydney.

The 17 backpackers were working on a project in the eastern suburbs, the union’s state secretary, Malcolm Tulloch, told the Irish Echo.

“They were trying to get drinking money together, mostly,” Mr Tulloch said.

“I can understand why they were doing it, but by working illegally, they are inadvertently lowering the wages.

“The union is currently pursuing about 20 companies in Sydney for underpaying temporary foreign workers, which includes illegal workers. Just over $100,000 was recovered for the Irish bricklayers.”

Mr Tulloch said that there is a significant number of Irish bricklayers and people working in traffic control on construction projects who have issues with their visas, but he doesn’t blame them for working illegally if no one is enforcing the law.

:: Systematic exploitation

“We have a lot of Irish bricklayers over here, obviously there is a skill base in Ireland. It’s one of those unique skills that you can take all over the world.

“They should get paid like everyone else,” he said.

Mr Tulloch added that the union and organisers talked to workers on sites who raise issues if they’re not getting entitlements. He said that the union doesn’t investigate people’s immigration status.

“Regardless of your status, if you are an Australian, or a person from overseas, when you work here your labour is the same. You should be paid the same and you are obliged to pay the appropriate taxes,” he said.

“But if people are working illegally then they can be exploited. Companies know that if they don’t pay them properly, the workers don’t know where to go to get advice or help.

“Generally, they can come to the union, though, because immigration isn’t our issue,”
he said.

The state secretary acknowledged that authorities are currently overwhelmed by the issue of people overstaying their visas.

“The laws are probably not as tough as they should be,” he said.

“But it’s not the blame of the workers, it’s the bosses who seek out these people that should be blamed.”

The family of a 29-year-old Corkman who has been left fighting for his life at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after an assault in Randwick on Sunday night, are currently en rout to Sydney from Ireland to be at his bedside.

Paddy Fox underwent emergency surgery after a serious assault in Randwick on Sunday night outside the Royal Hotel.

Police have arrested and charged a 19-year-old man over the attack, but he has been released on bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on April 13.

The assault allegedly occurred at the hotel in Perouse Road around 8pm, in which Mr Fox, who has an address in Coogee, fell back and struck his head on the ground, according to police.

He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with serious head and brain injuries, and underwent emergency surgery.

On Monday, detectives from the Eastern Beaches Local Area Command attended an address in Cook Street, Randwick, and arrested the teenager.

He was taken to the Maroubra Police Station where he was charged with recklessly inflict grievous bodily harm.

The assault comes just months after the death of Gearóid Walsh who died after an altercation with another man in Coogee in October.

by Aaron Dunne

by Pádraig Collins
The case of an Irishman being investigated by Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) over visa fraud has been passed on to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Irish Echo has learned.
The news follows a series of revelations in the Echo concerning fraudulent Australian Business Numbers (ABN) being used by Irish backpackers to obtain second Working Holiday Visas (WHV).
The Irishman whose case is now with the DPP is still living in Australia. It is understood this case is separate from the cases where one Irishman has already been convicted of visa fraud and another, who has left the country, is being investigated.
The basis of all these investigations lies in the ABNs of farmers being used by applicants for second WHVs. People applying for a second WHV have to first work for three months in agricultural or regional work.
Many applicants thought the ABN scam was genuine and that they would work on a farm at a later date. But some, unable or unwilling to find regional work, paid up to $400 for an ABN and took their chances that DIAC would not fully scrutinise their application. It is estimated that 90% of the time the visa was granted due to the vast number of visas being processed and the relatively few which were subjected to in depth checking.

One scammer selling ABNs through internet ads is estimated to have made up to $60,000 doing so. He used the alias “Kevin Doyle” and is now back in Ireland and thought to be living in Co Wicklow.
Some people have become concerned that the fraudulent cases will mean the end of the second WHV scheme. The Irish Echo understands that while all classes of Australian visas are under constant review, there is not currently any move to end the second Working Holiday Visa. However, it is likely that such incidences of fraud would be considered in a review of the scheme.
In spite of the risks, some people have posted on internet sites about how they have fraudulently acquired a second WHV. “I’ve heard of some people submitting random ABN numbers and having their extension granted without any problems,” one poster wrote.
People convicted of fraud under the Migration Act may be liable for imprisonment for up to 10 years, and/or a fine of up to $110,000.
Have you been the victim of an ABN scam? Let us know in confidence on 02 9555 9199 or editor@irishecho.com.au

Only hours into the New Year, two young Irishmen – cousins and best friends – were killed in a horrific car accident in country Victoria. Michael Curtis, 20, from Carlow town and JJ Leonard, 19, from Athy in Co Kildare, died when the red Ford Falcon in which they were travelling lost control on a bend near Balliang East in Victoria. Police were called to the scene – just outside the town of Bacchus Marsh and halfway between Geelong and Melbourne – after passers-by discovered the crash about 7am on New Year’s morning. The families of the two victims – including Michael’s mother Catherine and JJ’s mother Tracy – travelled to Australia once news of the tragedy reached them. The repatriation of the two victims’ bodies has now taken place, the Irish Echo understands. Police are still conducting an investigation into the incident. The two cousins had been living in Bacchus Marsh for nearly a year and had moved into an apartment in the town above the Young and Main Hotel. Michael had been in Australia since early January 2007, while JJ had followed his cousin Down Under a few weeks later. The pair were said to have been enjoying life in Australia and did not appear to have any plans to return to Ireland. Michael is even understood to have applied for residency. On hearing the tragic news, the Young and Main Hotel held a function for the boys to raise funds towards the expenses of their travelling parents. It is understood, however, that the two boys, who had been working as steel fixers on a building site, had their funeral and other expenses covered by their union. In a sad turn to the story it also emerged that Mr Leonard had a nine-month-old baby girl in Ireland, whom he had yet to meet. Meanwhile Mr Curtis’s family had just been recovering from the loss of his eight-year-old cousin a few weeks before.

A 24-year-old Irish backpacker is being hailed as a hero after rescuing an elderly woman from a house fire in Sydney.
Sean Campbell, from Rostrevor in Co Down, who has been in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa for the past four months, was driving home from work in the south Sydney suburb of Coogee when he noticed smoke bellowing out from a house before Christmas.
He turned his car around and went in for a closer look and once he realised that an 86-year-old woman was trapped inside he acted on instinct and put his own life on the line to pull her from the flames.
“I was coming home from work when I saw smoke coming out of this building. I thought it looked suspicious because people just don’t light fires at this time of year. I went up for a closer look and saw the house was on fire so I called the fire brigade and gave them all the details.
“I was trying to look in through the windows to see if anyone was inside when a neighbour told me there was an elderly woman called Esther living in there. I tried to get in the front door but it was locked so I went around to the back door and put my shoulder to it and knocked it in.
“When I got inside I found an old woman sitting there in the living room in a daze with smoke everywhere. I ducked down under the smoke and went to get her with another guy who had come to help. There were orange lines all over the ceiling where it was on fire so it looked like it could collapse at any minute.
“Myself and the other guy grabbed a blanket and threw it over her and walked her out the back door.”
Once outside Sean handed the old woman off to a neighbour as the fire brigade who had just arrived on the scene set about dealing with the fire.
Amazingly the have-a-go hero took the whole matter in his stride, calmly climbing back into his car and driving off to do his shopping. He did admit that he had been scared during the incident though while remaining incredibly modest.
“I had to think about it obviously, it was a pretty scary prospect. I was thinking to myself that I’d like to get home to my own family for Christmas!
“I don’t really see it as being all that brave to be honest. I would hope that someone would do the same for me. I don’t know what really made me drive a few hundreds yards out of my way but I just wanted to see where all the smoke was coming from. I’m really glad that I did now though.”

A worryingly high number of Sydney backpackers are being exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a new study by the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health Department says. The results of the unpublished study show that binge drinking is the biggest cause in the increase of STIs and that some backpackers may even have contracted more serious infections such as HIV on their way to Australia through Asia. “A culture of binge drinking among backpackers may be contributing to unsafe sexual behaviour and higher numbers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) being diagnosed at the Sydney Sexual Health Centre,” a statement by the department about the study’s results read. The acting director of the Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Lynne Wray, said that research had found backpackers were more likely to report drinking alcohol to excess, not using condoms and therefore increasing their risk of contracting an STI.  “The number of heterosexual backpackers coming to the clinic with new sexually transmitted infections is of great concern. A small proportion of these also have HIV infections that they have acquired in other countries on the way to Australia,” said Dr Wray. “It is important for people to pack condoms when travelling.”  In response to this trend South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health’s HARP (HIV/AIDS and Related Programs) Unit is working with City of Sydney, Manly, Waverley and Randwick Councils, Sydney South West and North Sydney Central Coast Area Health Services and the NSW Backpackers Operators Association to promote better sexual health practices among backpackers. Advertising in backpacker magazines, as well as on posters and drink coasters will carry messages like “I came for a trip of a lifetime, now I’m leaving with a lifetime infection. Use a condom”.  Condoms will also be distributed in backpacker accommodation to try and reduce the incidence of STIs. Of the 4,382 backpackers included in the study between 1998 and 2006, the median age was 25 years old. Forty-six per cent were from Britain, 19 per cent from Ireland, seven per cent from New Zealand, four per cent from Canada and 24 per cent from elsewehere. Young travellers have also been encouraged to call the Sexual Health Infoline on 1800 451 624 with any concerns.

The body of Kildare woman, Niamh Conlan, who drowned while swimming in a pool in Cairns, Queensland, has been brought home by her grieving parents.

The 29-year-old hospitality graduate was discovered at the bottom of a swimming pool in the Figtree Lodge just a few hours after she had arrived at the Cairns hotel on a three-week holiday.

Police have described her death as a “tragic accident.”

Two male hotel guests pulled Conlan out of the water at 4.40pm on Wednesday, November 5 after the alarm was raised by a woman swimming in the pool. Paramedics are reported to have performed CPR for 30 minutes but were unable to revive her.

Described by those who knew her as “a positive young woman,’”Conlan had just graduated with a degree in hospitality from Athlone Institute of Technology and passed her driving test days before leaving for Australia – a trip she had been planning for months.

Her parents PJ and Mary arrived in Australia last week to take their daughter home after a postmortem was carried out. Cairns police have ruled out suspicious circumstances and are investigating the possibility that Conlan may have had a medical condition that caused her to get into difficulties in the shallow pool.

“Police have spoken with witnesses who were on the scene and it’s currently looking like this was a tragic accident,’’ Acting Sgt Cary Coolican of Cairns Police told the Irish Echo; “A post-mortem has been carried out and coronial investigations are continuing.”

Conlan was holidaying alone but was planning to meet friends in Townsville. 

She had only arrived in Cairns that day and had booked an organised tour of the city just hours before she died.

 Police said she was sunbathing at the pool, which was surrounded by guests, for an hour before she was discovered in the water.

“The pool was not deep and she would have been able to stand in it,” Sgt Coolican said. 

“According to hotel staff she seemed absolutely fine, asked them for a towel and went for a swim. We are investigating whether she may have had a medical condition that affected her while she was in the water.”

The husband of the female swimmer who discovered Conlan told local reporters that his wife was distraught.

“You can imagine that she’s very upset,” he said.

The Irish Australian Support Association, Queensland held a mass in Brisbane in memory of Conlan and other Irish people who have died in the state.