Judge in warning to gardaí over case delay
A judge has warned gardaí that if the book of evidence is not ready in a fortnight in relation to a man extradited from the UK to face a string of sex offence allegations, he will strike out the charges.
It came after the solicitor for the man said his client, who cannot be named, had been in custody for almost three months, with authorities in the United Kingdom detaining him for more than two months before he was extradited to Ireland.
Solicitor Plunkett Taaffe, acting for the man, also claimed that documents he had seen indicated that one of the two alleged victims had sought to have the charges withdrawn.
The man was arrested in the UK on foot of a European arrest warrant and appeared in court in West Cork on 42 charges, including for rape and sexual assault.
The 51-year-old unemployed man had been arrested at Dublin Airport and charged on January 31 in Bandon Garda Station.
At Clonakilty District Court yesterday, Sgt Trish O’Sullivan said the book of evidence was not ready, with Mr Taaffe stating that his client has been in custody since November 10 last.
The offences are alleged to have taken place almost a decade ago and more. 41 of the offences relate to one person. Mr Taaffe claimed documents he had seen showed one of the alleged victims had sought to withdraw the complaints last March.
“He is in custody in a country that is not his country,” Mr Taaffe said.
Gardaí said they would object to bail but no application had been made and Mr Taaffe said his client had no money and no address or surety with which to apply for bail.
Judge James McNulty said he was not to blame for any delays that any have occurred in the UK but said he did not want the case to drift any further. Sgt O’Sullivan said the book of evidence would be ready in two weeks and the judge said: “It will need to be. The next day the court would have to look at an alternative and accede to the request made today.”
He remanded the man in custody until March 5 next, peremptorily against the State and said if progress was not made he would strike out the charges.
