Judge asked to adjourn murder trial so accused can have hip replacement
Lawyers for David Mahon have made an application at the Central Criminal Court today to adjourn his trial for murder, due to begin next Monday, so that he can have a hip replacement.
The judge said that he will need a sworn affidavit from Mr Mahon's consultant surgeon regarding the "urgency" of the operation before he can consider adjourning the trial.
David Mahon (aged 44), of Ongar Village, Clonsilla is charged with murdering 23-year-old Dean Fitzpatrick on May 26, 2013 at Northern Cross on Dublin's Malahide Road.
Today, Sean Guerin SC, for Mr Mahon, told Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy that his client has had two hip replacements and that one of the replacements "hasn't taken".
Mr Guerin said that his client is waiting for an operation, scheduled to take place in two weeks' time.
The trial is expected to last two weeks, the court heard.
The barrister presented letters from Mr Mahon's consultant surgeon and his GP to the court.
The GP's letter said the failure of the existing replacement was causing Mr Mahon "severe pain", the court was told.
Mr Justice McCarthy said that he could not adjourn the trial on the basis of letters from the surgeon and GP.
"I'm not prepared to adjourn on the basis of a report," the judge said.
He told Mr Guerin that he needed a sworn affidavit from Mr Mahon's surgeon, highlighting the "urgency" of the operation and that it cannot be postponed, before he could consider adjourning the trial.
The case is listed for mention again on Friday morning, April 22, when the surgeon's sworn affidavit is expected to be presented to the court.
