Judge shortage hits sex assault trials
Three serious sex assault trials which were scheduled to start at the Central Criminal Court this week had to be adjourned because there were no judges available to take them.
Mr Justice Paul Carney noted that it would now take at least a further 16 months before new dates could be found for these trials after he was told by defence counsel in two of the cases that they have had the same problem three to four times previously.
"Rightly or wrongly, I have decided to give priority to murder trials from Limerick", Mr Justice Carney told a courtroom packed with members of the would-be jury panel for the four trials listed to start this week.
Mr Justice Carney said he had no alternative but to adjourn two sheduled rape trials and one sexual assault trial to the next listing date on February 28, after he swore a jury in for the trial of Co. Limerick man William Roche (aged 23), accused of killing Mr John Carroll on December 4, 1998 at Garrun, Ballinahinch, Newport, Co. Tipperary.
Mr Justice Carney had commented previously on the large number of murders from Limerick coming before the Central Criminal Court.
"During this year I have heard at least two murder cases from Limerick, and already there have been a further two killings this year - of a pensioner and a restaurentier - in the county."
Defence counsel in one of the adjourned rape cases told Mr Justice Carney his client was under "enormous stress" due to his case having failed to get on previously three times and he asked for "some possible priority" in seeking an early trial date.
Counsel for other accused repeated this request in their cases and Mr Justice Carney replied that the same could be said in most of the cases that would come before the court for listing on February 28 next.
"Despite having a 'no adjournment' rule, I have no choice in the matter but to put your cases back if I have no judge available to take them," Mr Justice Carney told the counsel, noting that it would take at least another 16 months before the trials could be heard.
