‘20,000pages’in case

Gardai estimate there are 20,000 documents on a computer at the centre of a case in which a Dundalk man is charged with handling stolen property.

The number was mentioned by Sgt. Fintain McGroder in the case of Alan Fealy, (41), 63 Barrack Street, who was charged with handling stolen property at the Marsh Road, Bellurgan on January 15.

Sgt. McGroder said there was ‘ a large amount of date to be analysed’ and he was ‘seeking a lengthy adjournment’. But solicitor Conor MacGuill said the case had been before the court for the past four months and there were ‘not even directions or an indication yet’ from the DPP about where it was going to be heard.

Sgt. McGroder said a computer had to analysed and it was estimated there would be ‘20,000 pages of disclosure about what was found on a mobile and computer’.

He said Gardai were ‘trying to connect that property in relation to what Mr Fealy says - he was trying to buy another engine’.

Mr MacGuill said his client is charged with handling stolen property and Judge Brennan asked when Gardai would have an answer to that.

Sgt. McGroder said: ‘We are still looking at it and we hope to get a file away to the DPP next week’.

Mr MacGuill contended: ‘It seems more expansive than what is under investigation and I would ask for a date in July for the DPP directions, to see what attitude she is taking. The preparation is over-expansive, it seems to me’.

Judge Brennan listed the case for September 28 and said: ‘If there is no word back from the DPP on that date, I will strike out the charges’.