Too long for case to come to court

A 28-year-old man has had a charge of assault causing harm dismissed, after Judge Coughlan ruled the case had taken too long to get to court.

Karl Clinton, 31 Ballypark Estate, Drogheda, was alleged to have committed the offence at ‘Bengal Spice’, Stockwell Street, Drogheda, on 21 March, 2014.

At the outset, it was stated the defendant was at college, and not in court.

However, the judge said the case was going on.

After hearing submissions from defence counsel Ronan O’Carroll and gardaí, Judge Coughlan said the problem he had was it is now three-and-a-half years after the date of the offence.

‘In my view, that is outside the time. It is far too long.’ He dismissed the charge.