A leading Donegal solicitor has questioned a timeline given in court after hearing that directions were still awaited in a case involving one of his clients.
Mr Rory O’Brien was speaking at Letterkenny District Court in the case of his client, Paddy Sweeney.
The 29-year-old of Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, has several pending matters before the court and has been on remand at Castlerea Prison since May.
Mr O’Brien responded after the court was informed that directions are still outstanding.
Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said that “one aspect needs directions” and added that a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Sergeant Collins told Judge Emile Daly that directions are “imminent”.
Mr O’Brien pointed out that this is the eighth time that his client has been before the court and asked the exact date that a file was sent to the DPP.
Sergeant Collins advised that a file was sent to the State Solicitor on July 6 and was forwarded to the DPP the following day.
“As of Friday evening, they were awaiting to appoint a directing officer,” Sergeant Collins said. “We are monitoring emails to see if it has been checked yet.”
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Mr O’Brien said that on a court date in June he was advised that a file had been sent and added that some information that has been given that is now “plainly untrue”.
“This man has sat in custody for weeks and weeks,” Mr O’Brien said. “It’s not like the DPP has anything else to be doing at the moment.”
Mr O’Brien said that Sweeney is keen to resolve matters and “has at all times indicated this position”.
Mr O’Brien said: “He has been in custody for over two months. The State says they are awaiting directions, awaiting directions, awaiting directions. I asked when the file was sent and the court informed me that it was sent the week before. Now, the court says that wasn’t true.
“Mistakes can happen but if a specific question is asked through the court relating to a gentleman who remains in custody and an answer is given . . .”
Sergeant Collins noted that the file was “returned for clarification of points” and was sent back to the DPP again.
“Round and round the houses we go,” Mr O’Brien responded. “I have little to no respect for semantics when there is a gentleman in custody. The nett effect is that the matter was to be progressed rather quickly. They are now using excuses and I take it very seriously, particularly in the current environment.”
Judge Daly, who had previously said that she “expects progress” in the case, adjourned the matter and marked a burglary charge peremptory against the State. Other matters for Sweeney were adjourned for directions.
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 Tennants 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.