A solicitor representing a Letterkenny man awaiting direction on a raft of charges has hit out at the ongoing delay in matters progressing.
Mr Rory O’Brien was speaking at Letterkenny District Court in the case of his client, Mr Paddy Sweeney.
The 29-year-old of Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, has several pending matters before the court.
Sweeney has been on remand at Castlerea Prison since May.
“He languishes in custody and is keen to address matters,” Mr O’Brien told Judge Emile Daly.
When Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that a file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the State would try to expedite matters, Mr O’Brien asked the judge if she would consider striking the matter out.
Referencing new measures in the Legal Aid system that are coming into being this week, he said: “If the Department of Justice is correct, this matter will be well past its expiration date. This is a fifth date for Mr Sweeney.
Judge Daly asked what the difficulty was and Sergeant Collins said that the file “took some time”.
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He said the file has been with the DPP in the last week and said they are “expecting a direction”.
Mr O’Brien said there was not consent to a four-week adjournment and added: “There hasn’t been a single adjournment here by his solicitor”.
Judge Daly adjourned the case until July 13 and added that she “expects progress” by that date.
Addressing Mr O’Brien’s point, Judge Daly said: “I accept your point but I have to process matters in the way that it has been to date. If that changes, then it changes to a different way.
Sweeney is charged with theft of two four-packs of Desperadoes bottles and five cans of Four Loko, all valued at €48, from Kernan’s Spar, Letterkenny, on May 11, 2026.
On the same date and location he is charged with the theft of two eight-packs of Tennent’s and seven cans of Four Loko, with a combined value of €66.20.
He faces a further charge in respect of the same shop and the same date, relating to the theft of three cans of Four Loko, valued at €15.75.
Sweeney is also charged with an alleged burglary at Burnside, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny on May 11, 2026. He is charged with entering the building as a trespasser and committing an arrestable offence therein, namely criminal damage.
Sweeney has other offences before the court including the alleged assault of another person on High Road, Letterkenny in October 2024 as well as other public order, theft and criminal damage offences.