Woman charged with impeding apprehension of driver allegedly involved in Stephen's Day hit-and-run
A Dublin woman has been charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a driver who was allegedly involved in a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the lives of a couple of St Stephen's Day.
Nicole Fallon (35) is the second person to be charged following the deaths of husband and wife Anthony Hogg and Georgina Hogg Moore in Blanchardstown last Christmas.
Mr Hogg, 40, and his wife Georgina, 39, were struck while crossing a road near Blanchardstown Shopping Centre at around 5.45pm on December 26, 2024.
The couple, married with children, lived in the nearby Whitestown area.
John Halpin (45) is currently before the courts charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of the couple, as well as failing to offer assistance at the scene.
John Halpin is charged with dangerous driving
News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, July 29
Both Mr Halpin and Ms Fallon were further charged when they appeared before Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday.
The court heard they are facing trial in the circuit court after the DPP ruled the allegations were too serious for the district court.
Judge David McHugh adjourned the cases to September for the service of the book of evidence.
Ms Fallon, with an address at Whitestown Avenue in Blanchardstown, is charged with unlicensed and uninsured driving at Whitestown Avenue in Blanchardstown on December 26, 2024.
Detective Garda Niamh Crowe gave evidence of further charging Ms Fallon with two new charges.
It is alleged that Ms Fallon, knowing or believing that another individual committed an offence, namely dangerous driving causing death, did "without reasonable excuse an act with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of the said person".
The second new charge alleges Ms Fallon did an act with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of a person while "knowing or believing that person had breached their duties in relation to the occurrence of an accident with intent to escape civil or criminal liability".
Garda Shane Wood gave evidence to Blanchardstown court of further charging Mr Halpin with four new charges.
Mr Halpin is accused of failing to stop a vehicle, which was allegedly involved in causing injury to Mr Hogg and Ms Hogg Moore.
He is also charged with failing to offer assistance to the couple with the intent to escape civil or criminal liability.
Gda Crowe and Gda Wood said gardai had no objection to bail being extended to the new sheets.
Gardai said the DPP had directed trial on indictment in the circuit court on the charges.
Defence solicitors Tertius Van Eeden and Aoife McNicholl said there was consent to an adjournment to a date in September.
The accused have not yet indicated how they intend pleading to the charges.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
an hour ago
- Sunday World
Cops probe circumstances surrounding body found in burning car after Co Tyrone arson attack
A body was discovered after the blaze was extinguished in the Rylagh Road area of Omagh Emergency services at the scene on The Rylagh Road outside Omagh, Co. Tyrone. Photo: Jonathan Porter/PressEye An MLA has said that a Co Tyrone community has been left in shock after a person died following a 'disturbing incident" linked to an arson attack on a car. Police are investigating the sudden death with occurred in Omagh yesterday. The person has not yet been named and the PSNI are working to discover how the deceased came to be beside the burning car. Triple murderer Rutledge tried to strangle wife week before he shot her and children dead The unlikely slogan Sinn Féin might soon be using: Keep Northern Ireland SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said: 'This is a deeply disturbing incident that has shocked the local community. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the person who has so tragically lost their life.' The West Tyrone MLA added: 'It is heartbreaking that someone has died in such harrowing circumstances. People in the area are understandably anxious and looking for answers. 'It is critical that anyone with information – no matter how small – reports it to the PSNI. "The victim's family deserves truth and justice. I will be following developments closely and supporting efforts to ensure a full investigation.' Mr McCrossan commended the swift response of emergency services and reiterated the need for calm and cooperation as the investigation continues. Detective Inspector Keon said: 'Just before 2.05pm, we received a report from our colleagues in Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service that a vehicle – a silver Mitsubishi Lancer GS2 - was on fire in the Rylagh Road area of the town. 'As fire officers extinguished the blaze they discovered that, tragically, a person had died as a result of the fire. 'We are treating this fire as arson, and our enquiries as to how the person came to be beside the vehicle are ongoing. 'We would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area between midday and 2.15pm yesterday, who may have noticed anything suspicious, to contact us. 'We would be particularly keen to hear from anyone who had dashcam or other footage and would also like to hear from anyone who may have noticed this particular vehicle.' Emergency services at the scene on The Rylagh Road outside Omagh, Co. Tyrone. Photo: Jonathan Porter/PressEye News in 90 Seconds - Sunday, August 3rd
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Mum blasts cop claims over her son's ‘firearm' incident
The woman said he was having a major mental health issue and has since been sectioned. The mother of a man arrested with a knife after a late night stand-off in east Belfast last week says she's 'extremely disappointed' at how the PSNI portrayed the incident. She says her 35-year-old son, who was arrested, was having a major mental health issue and has since been sectioned – but none of this was reflected in statements put out by the force after the event. She says instead it was made to look like her son had 'gone on some kind of rampage', starting fires and threatening members of the emergency services. Last Sunday the PSNI put out a statement to say one of their officers had been scalded with a 'liquid substance' in what they described as a 'firearms-related incident' in the Coates Row area of the city. Emergency services were called. The man was arrested, they said, 'on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, arson to endanger life, and other related offences'. And they added: 'Our officers responded swiftly to this report to protect both the public and our emergency service partners. 'Threatening and violent behaviour towards emergency workers is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.' But the man's family met with the Sunday World to say they feel the incident had been misrepresented because at no stage did he threaten anyone with a knife. 'I just want to say I have nothing but praise for the police in general and for the officers who were there last Saturday night,' said the man's mum, who asked not to be identified to protect the identity of her vulnerable son. 'They acted professionally in what was a very difficult situation. I was there, so I witnessed it all. My concern is how the incident was portrayed afterwards in the media. 'Firstly the police described this as a firearms incident. There was no firearm. He had a knife and had barricaded himself into his own flat because he thought he was under threat but he didn't threaten anyone with the knife. 'When we arrived it was clear he was having a mental health episode. He thought he saw people standing outside his window but he lives on the fourth floor of a block of apartments, so that wasn't possible. 'But he thought he was under threat so he set the fire alarms off so the emergency services would come. The woman took a photo of the emergency services. News in 90 Seconds - Saturday, August 2 'When I arrived the Fire Service were already there. They could see there was no fire but they said they'd have to go in and check to make sure and to reset the alarms. 'As soon as the door was opened to his flat you could see he was no threat. He's about eight stone and very small and puny. He had barricaded himself into the kitchen and was 15ft back from the front door. 'He was very distressed and had lost all grasp of reality. He was saying he didn't know what was real and that he didn't believe the Fire Service were the Fire Service because he couldn't see the blue flashing lights. 'The Fire Service said they'd have to call the cops as he was holding a knife and they couldn't let me go in to talk to him which were all the right things to do. 'The police came with the ARU [Armed Response Unit] team and there was a stand-off but the way the incident was made to look afterwards it was as if he was running around the streets with a knife or a firearm making threats. Coates Row, Belfast. 'I don't know how the police officer got scalded. I had gone downstairs to take a photo of the ambulance and fire engines to show my son to show him the emergency services really were here. 'While I was doing a police officer decided to go into the flat and I think he thought he'd sort the thing out and that's when he had hot water thrown at him. I hope the officer makes a speedy recovery. 'You've got to remember the hall was full of clutter — a scooter and a bike — and he'd turned the kitchen table sideways and had been crouched down hiding in fear 15ft away from the front door. 'The firefighters who were there have told me afterwards they did not feel under threat and neighbours have come forward to say they want to give character references for my son. 'They said he has been living there for nine years without any trouble and that he's the best neighbour. That made me cry when one of them told me that.' Some media reporting the incident, including the BBC, even said the police had already charged the man with 'arson to endanger life and other related offences' when in fact he has not been charged with anything as he has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. On Tuesday a follow-up PSNI statement said: 'A 35-year-old man arrested on Sunday, 20th July, in connection with a firearms-related incident in the Coates Row area of east Belfast — during which one officer was scalded — has been released on bail to allow for further enquiries. The investigation continues.' The family remain upset that the incident is still being referred to as a firearms-related incident but the PSNI told the Sunday World last night: 'The report was treated as a firearms-related incident and ARU officers were required to attend.' The man's family say they still can't understand why the PSNI, days later, continue to refer to it as a firearms incident, but hope now their distressed relative will receive the proper mental health support and diagnosis he deserves. 'I think there's still a massive amount of work to do for the police to learn about handling a mental health issue like this,' says the man's mum.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
House and cars torched in overnight arson attack in Co. Down
The cars were destroyed while the property suffered scorch damage. A house and two cars were set on fire in Co Down. Stock photo. Police are searching for a motive behind an overnight arson attack in Co Down. A house and two cars were set ablaze in Millisle early this morning. The cars were destroyed while the property suffered scorch damage. The PSNI has appealed for information. Detective Sergeant Westbury, said: 'In the early hours of Saturday morning, at around 3.30am, it was reported that a house and two cars were on fire in the Ballywalter Road area. A house and two cars were set on fire in Co Down. Stock photo. News in 90 Seconds - Saturday, August 2 Read more Two gardaí suspended and charged with corruption offences after alleged 'dodgy' drugs search 'Officers attended, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who extinguished the blaze. 'Thankfully, no one was in the property at the time of the fire. 'However, scorch damage has been caused to the rear of the property with the two cars being completely burnt out. 'This is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life and the investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened, a motive, and who was involved. 'I appeal to anyone who may be able to assist with their investigation or has CCTV, dash-cam or mobile phone footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 240 02/08/25. 'We are especially keen to hear from anyone who had noticed any suspicious activity or anything out of the ordinary in the Ballywalter Road area.'
