By Con Dennehy

A Spanish man who was arrested by police in Alicante following the horrific death of a popular Caherciveen couple, John (46) and Mary O'Connell (45), is to face charges of reckless homicide in a Spanish court. 

A judge ordered on Tuesday that the man be sent to prison, with bail set at €6,000.

The O’Connells from Gorteen were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in Spain when they were struck by a Peugeot 206 car in Alicante, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. 

The front of the car was extensively damaged in the impact, which resulted in the O’Connells being thrown a distance of 50 metres. 

The South Kerry couple had arrived at the popular tourist location late on Saturday evening. They were walking home from a concert at approximately 12.30am on Tuesday morning when the tragic accident occurred in the holiday resort of Orihuela Costa, south of Alicante. 

Police detained the 35-year-old Spanish driver, who was unhurt in the accident. He was remanded in custody after he tested positive for alcohol during a roadside test. 

According to Spanish media reports, the blood alcohol limit was 0.30mg per litre of air breathed in the first test and 0.40 in the second. The maximum allowed is 0.25 mg per litre.

••• SEE DIGITAL EDITION FOR FULL VERSION