Circuit Court judge voices concern over ever-growing case list

Donegal’s Circuit Court Judge has voiced his displeasure at the ever-growing list of cases coming before him.

Judge John Aylmer was speaking at the opening of the latest sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.

The list of cases before Judge Aylmer on this occasion has swollen to over 200 criminal cases. 

The current list for a three-week sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court includes 212 criminal cases while there are also extensive civil cases as well as licensing matters and District Court appeals on the menu.

Judge Aylmer noted that his list for the Letterkenny Circuit Court has doubled in size over the last 18 months, going from a list of around 100 cases to over 200.Judge Aylmer told the State prosecutor, Ms Fiona Crawford, that he wanted a message to go out “loud and clear” to An Garda Siochana.

“We can’t keep adjourning cases to facilitate guards,”Judge Aylmer said when told that gardai were not available for one particular case. 

Judge Aylmer said that the schedule for the Circuit Court is known from October of each year. 

He added that gardai should not take holidays during sessions and that officers who aren’t present should have to take an oath in the witness box to explain why.

He said: “We can’t facilitate guards in that way or we will have a list of 300.”

He said the State prosecution team should have clear instructions on cases by the start of the court term.

Judge Aylmer added: “The list is taking too long to call because you don’t know what the position is.”